Posted on 06/19/2002 7:57:12 PM PDT by GailA
Rep. Keith Westmoreland Commits Suicide 06-19-2002 -- Kingsport
REPORTS OUT OF KINGSPORT SAY THAT REP. KEITH WESTMORELAND HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE. IT APPARENTLY HAPPENED AT HIS HOME IN KINGSPORT.
AS REPORTED EARLIER ON FOX 17 NEWS, THE KINGSPORT REPUBLICAN WAS CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF EXPOSING HIMSELF TO CHILDREN AT A HOTEL SWIMMING POOL. METRO POLICE SAY IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME WESTMORELAND HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF INDECENT EXPOSURE. ON MARCH 13TH A MANAGER AT THE DAYS INN ACROSS FROM WESTMORELAND'S DOWNTOWN APARTMENT CALLED POLICE TO REPORT A MAN EXPOSING HIMSELF. A FURTHER SEARCH OF RECORDS BY THE DEPARTMENT'S SEX CRIMES UNIT TURNED UP ANOTHER CASE INVOLVING WESTMORELAND. THE CASE WAS REPORTED MARCH 26TH AT THE HOLIDAY INN SELECT ON ELM HILL PIKE. HOTEL PATRONS WROTE DOWN THE SUSPECT'S CAR TAG, WHICH SHOWED A CAR REGISTERED TO KEITH. WESTMORELAND. SO FAR THE WOMAN IN THE CASE HAS DECLINED TO PRESS CHARGES....TO PROTECT HER 13 AND 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS FROM FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT.
In Nashville, there are even more accusations of indecent exposure against Rep. Keith Westmoreland, (R) Kingsport.
Wednesday, at a 5 p.m. press conference, Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said that in a review of cases by the sex crimes unit it appears that Westmoreland is a suspect in another indecent exposure case.
Westmoreland was arrested last week in Florida on seven felony charges that he exposed himself at a hotel in Sandestin.
On Monday, NewsChannel 5 revealed that Metro police warned Westmoreland in March after witnesses said Westmoreland exposed himself to a motel located across from his Nashville apartment.
During Wednesday's news conference, Aaron said that a newly uncovered case involving Westmoreland happened at the Holiday Inn Select on Elm Hill Pike on March 26.
Two girls, ages 13 and 15, told their mother that a man was exposing himself to them in the hotel's hot tub area.
The mother reported the incident to the hotel's management.
"When that notification was made, the suspect reportedly got out of the hot tub, hurriedly dressed, exited towards the parking lot, got into a vehicle and fled the hotel," Aaron said.
The victims wrote down the vehicle tag number and that number came back as belonging to Westmoreland.
When police interviewed the victims, the mother was unsure about prosecution. A few days later, when contacted by police, she declined to prosecute.
Aaron said in light of recent events, the police department would leave the Holiday Inn case against Westmoreland open.
The teens and the mother were from east Tennessee. Aaron said the police department would not name the victims because they are minors.
Westmoreland Target Of TBI Investigation NewsChannel 5 has learned that Westmoreland was the target of a recent Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe, which adds to the growing list of troubling revelations against the Kingsport Republican lawmaker.
Westmoreland isn't talking, but he didn't dodge Wednesday's legislative session.
No one knew if he would show, but at 10 a.m. Westmoreland made his way to the state house chamber.
Westmoreland had nothing to say about the seven felony charges filed against him in Florida for indecent exposure.
He stood by his desk in the back of the room and was warmly welcomed by his colleagues.
"You've got cameras around and we'd avoid him like the plague if he wasn't well liked," said Rep. Ken Givens, (D) Rogersville.
Rep. Joe Armstrong, (D) Knoxville, said, "I didn't say a word to him. Patted him on the back and I know everybody has trials and tribulations in their life."
It seems Westmoreland's had his share.
NewsChannel 5 has learned he was the target of a TBI investigation for allegedly making harassing phone calls to a fellow lawmaker and his wife.
Representative Zane Whitson wouldn't talk on camera, but confirmed he asked the TBI for help.
Agents tracked the calls, some sexual in nature, to Westmoreland.
Whitson never pressed charges.
In a separate case, Westmoreland was in trouble with Metro police in March after guests at a hotel complained he was flashing them from his apartment next door.
This was the call made to 911 -- "Yes, this is the Days Inn on 7th and Union. We have a guy on the apartment and he's exposing himself and we have a hotel full of teenagers."
As it was, Westmoreland was warned. It was clear people at the hotel can see inside the apartment when windows are open, Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said.
Westmoreland's legislative office refers all questions to his attorney in Florida.
In a statement, they call the indecent exposure charges in Florida nothing more than innuendo and Westmoreland wants his day in court.
That will come in July.
What was his position on the income tax?
That was my first question yesterday when the scandal charges first broke. GailA said he was PRO - income tax.
This is an amazing story. Suicide? Whoa....
(look at the times)
Now if only a bunch of homosexual child sodomizing Catholic Priests would do society a favor, and follow Westmoreland's example......
...or tax raising Republicans...
I mean, after all.. It's "only" flashing kids.
Has no bearing whatsoever on his job performance.
(/Sarcasm)
Teletubbies are on summer repeats.
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