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Haines City Chief Indicted On Soliciting Charges

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By TOM BRENNAN

tbrennan@tampatrib.com

Published: October 25, 2008

BARTOW - Haines City Police Chief Morris West has been indicted on three counts of soliciting prostitutes late last year.

A Polk County grand jury returned the indictments Thursday and unsealed them Friday after West received a summons to appear for arraignment Nov. 26.

Chip Thullbery, a spokesman for the state attorney's office, said the charges were the result of an ongoing grand jury probe into the Haines City Police Department.

West could not be reached for comment.

The indictment alleges West, 47, committed the offenses on Nov. 22, between Nov. 23 and Dec. 10, and between Dec. 11 and Dec. 25.

The solicitation charges are misdemeanors, each punishable by up to 60 days in the county jail.

West was named chief in 2003 and has been with the department since 1986.

Haines City's police department has 42 sworn officers and 17 civilian employees, according to its Web site.

Woman Fatally Shoots Intruder

TAMPA - A 62-year-old Memorial Middle School teacher fatally shot an intruder early Friday who broke into her house in Clair-Mel City, deputies said.

Juanita Enzor awoke before 5 a.m. and heard a man who had forced his way into her home through the front door, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

Enzor grabbed a gun and shot Mark C. Johnson, 40, as he confronted her in the bedroom.

"For fear of her life, she shot him one time," sheriff's Sgt. Mike Hurley said.

The investigation into the shooting is not complete, but so far no charges are pending against Enzor.

Enzor reluctantly took the day off from teaching, fretting about her students, Principal Art Akins said.

"If she had her druthers, she'd have been here this morning," he said Friday.

Valerie Kalfrin and Katie Coronado

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