Posted on 06/19/2002 7:59:55 PM PDT by Shermy
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (AP) - State Rep. Keith Westmoreland, charged last week with exposing himself in Florida, was found dead at his home Wednesday night, authorities said.
Westmoreland, 55, apparently took his life, police chief Mark Addington told the Kingsport Times-News.
Westmoreland, who had been in Nashville earlier Wednesday for a legislative session, was arrested last week in Florida on seven counts of indecent exposure.
On Tuesday, Nashville police said they had warned Westmoreland about showing his body after another incident _ this one March 13.
Earlier Wednesday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed a report on WTVF-TV of Nashville that the agency investigated allegations last September that Westmoreland made harassing phone calls to fellow lawmaker Zane Whitson and Whitson's wife.
TBI spokesman Brooks Wilkins would not elaborate Wednesday night on the allegations, but WTVF said some of the calls were sexual in nature.
Wilkins said the TBI turned its findings over to District Attorney Joe C. Crumley Jr. Crumley did not return a phone call Wednesday night for comment.
Whitson, R-Unicoi, said without elaboration that he did not press charges.
Second alleged Nashville exposure incident reported by police
More allegations against state Representative Keith Westsmoreland. The Kingsport Republican was arrested last week for indecent exposure in Florida.Police there say several teenagers reported he exposed himself at a resort on the Gulf Coast. Wednesday, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron says Westmoreland was involved in a similar incident at a Nashville Holiday Inn in March.
A woman called security after her teenage girls reported a man exposing himself. The woman told police she got the man's license plate.
It matched Westmoreland's, but the woman has refused to press charges. Nashville police previously reported that Westmoreland was warned after another incident at his Nashville apartment in March.
Also Wednesday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed a report concerning Westmoreland. The agency said it investigated allegations that he made harassing phone calls to fellow lawmaker Zane Whitson and Whitson's wife.
TBI spokesman Brooks Wilkins would not elaborate on the allegations, but it was reported that some of the calls were sexual in nature. Whitson said without elaboration that he did not press charges.
Westmoreland was back working on Capitol Hill today. He refused comment.
The story has rapidly developed on FR. Here's some links from GailA. Sounds to me the guy was rapidly going downhill. Revealing the prior incidents in Tennessee (hushed up until now) was the final blow.
TN STATE Rep. Keith Westmoreland arrested in Florida on 7 felony indecent exposure charges (6/18)
Good.
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