Phoenix Cop Arrested for Kidnapping and Sexually Assaulting Young Woman
Phoenix Police Officer Timothy Morris
UPDATE @ 6/28/2015 12:18 PM: During a press conference on Saturday, Sgt. Jonathan Howard, speaking on behalf of the Phoenix Police Department, said he was “for the first time, embarrassed” to be giving a statement about the conduct of one of its officers.
Former officer Timothy Morris has admitted to the misconduct he was accused of. The officer forced a woman to perform a sex act on him while she was in handcuffs. The Phoenix Police Department was quick to distance themselves from the officer, who called his behavior a “gross deviation of our expectations.”
A video of the conference, courtesy of AZCentral, is available below:
PHOENIX — A Phoenix police officer was arrested Saturday for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a 23-year-old woman.
Officer Timothy Morris, 40, was reported Friday to police by a woman who says he had engaged in sexual contact with her early that morning while serving a misdemeanor arrest warrant. The woman says after Morris assaulted her, he let her go without arresting her.
Police arrived at Morris’s home and arrested him, charging him with sexual assault and kidnapping. The arrest appears to have occurred without incident.
Later, while being questioned, Morris resigned from his position as an officer with the Phoenix Police Department.
Chief of Police Joseph Yahner gave the following statement in a release intended for the press:
The Phoenix Police Department took immediate action when this incident was brought to our attention. We responded quickly and decisively to ensure public trust and confidence. We hold our officers accountable to the highest standards. In addition to initiating the criminal investigation, the Phoenix Police Department began an internal investigation to address Officer Morris’s employment status however he resigned. I am extremely disappointed in the actions of Mr. Morris, the Phoenix Police Department will continue to hold its officers to the highest standards to ensure the trust and confidence of the community we serve.
