Jury Selection Begins in Trial of Former New Orleans 911 Director
Jury selection commenced Monday in the trial of Tyrell Morris, the former New Orleans 911 director accused of falsifying records related to a vehicle crash.
Morris, 39, resigned in 2023 from his position as head of the Orleans Parish Communication District. He faces multiple state charges, including malfeasance in office, false impersonation of a peace officer, insurance fraud, and second-degree injuring of public records, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The charges arise from an incident in May 2023 when Morris allegedly crashed his public SUV on Elysian Fields Avenue and failed to submit to a drug and alcohol screening. He is accused of creating a fake, backdated insurance policy and misrepresenting the details of the crash on official documents.
Morris appeared in court in a dark jacket, seated beside his attorney, Ralph Whalen, as Criminal District Judge Levine began selecting jurors for the trial, which is expected to last through most of the week, with a break on Tuesday.
Morris had attempted to qualify for the New Orleans mayoral race earlier this year but was disqualified after failing to appear at a court hearing regarding allegations of misrepresentation concerning his state tax returns.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.