By Patrick Ochs
The Sun Herald
BILOXI, Miss. — Police have confirmed the Morgan City, La., police chief was found dead in a local casino’s hotel room late Friday night.
Biloxi police Sgt. Chris De Back said officers were responding to a reported shooting about 11 p.m. when they discovered Morgan City Police Chief Travis Crouch, 46, dead in his room at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.
An autopsy was completed Saturday and Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said Crouch died of a gunshot wound to the head but Hargrove had not determined whether the death was accidental or intentional.
De Back said Crouch, who was in town with a group of friends, was found in his own room.
“There wasn’t anything suspicious in nature discovered during the investigation,” he said.
De Back said the investigation is ongoing and Biloxi police are in contact with Morgan City’s police department.
Morgan City Assistant Chief of Police Michael Banks said in a statement Crouch began his career with the department in 1991 and was appointed chief Feb. 26.
“Chief Crouch began making innovative and positive changes within this department,” Banks said. “Chief Crouch demanded a higher standard of service from his officers in order to better serve the citizens of our community.”
Copyright 2014 The Sun Herald