Post by WaTcHeR on Jun 2, 2006 14:27:47 GMT -5
Officer Charles Burford
06.02.2006 - DeSoto Parish Police Juror Charles Burford will resign and criminal charges that he fabricated a story about being shot by a burglar at his home will be dismissed, under an agreement between Burford's lawyer and the district attorney.
Burford's resignation is effective Saturday. As part of the agreement not to prosecute Burford for filing a false police report, Burford will reimburse the DeSoto Sheriff's Department $3,000 for the cost of their investigation, defense attorney Marty Stroud said.
This past March, Burford called the Sheriff's Department and said he had been shot at his dairy farm in Keatchie. He later admitted he made the story up trying to cover up a failed suicide attempt hours after he was busted in a prostitution sting in Shreveport
"I believe this action necessary to bring about closure of the controversy generated by my inappropriate conduct," Burford said in a resignation statement today. "The controversy surrounding me has undoubtedly affected the ability of the Police Jury to deal effectively with current matters before it without being engulfed in my problems."
Burford also apologized to his family, his constituents and the Sheriff's Department.
"In a moment of weakness, I succumbed to temptation, and for that I ask for your forgiveness," he said.
The solicitation charges are pending in Shreveport City Court.
Burford was arrested after said he answered a newspaper ad about an escort service, Shreveport police said. They said Burford had gone to a west side motel expecting to meet a woman and was arrested after he offered the undercover officer money for sex.
Sixteen hours later, deputies were called to Burford's dairy farm in Keatchie. He told them he had been shot by a robber and knocked unconscious before going after his attacker and having a wreck.
What actually happened, investigators said, was that Burford was despondent and shot himself, then shot himself again two hours later before driving his pickup about 10 miles into Panola County, Texas, where investigators believe he passed out and crashed into a tree.
Burford originally told deputies he was chasing the man who shot him.
"I think he is sorry for what he'd done. I think he was embarrassed about what he'd done and I think he was trying to save face for his family and do the best he can under the circumstances," Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle said after Burford was arrested.