May 23, 2012
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) --The hearing officer who heard Trooper Charles Van Morgan’s hearing on March 8th, 2012, concurred with the original recommendation for termination.
Commissioner Bill Gibbons upheld the termination based on the previous recommendation from Colonel Tracy Trott.
Trooper Morgan has 30 days to appeal the decision.
Charles Van Morgan met with THP administrators during a hearing back on March 8th.
At issue, a pursuit that ended in the death of Kyle Anito.
The chase began when Van Morgan says he clocked Anito's car going more than 30 miles per hour over the limit. Reports show he wanted to pull Anito over, but before he could, Anito's car struck a tree killing him instantly. Then it caught fire.
In the hearing, investigators said Van Morgan was going around 40 mph before passing Anito's wrecked car, and dropped to around 20 mph afterwards.
"I believe his testimony that he slowed his car partially due to road conditions," said "Ultimately, he did not recognize the vehicle as the one in pursuit."
Both THP and Anito's attorney, though, contend that Van Morgan's story just doesn't add up. They feel like some of the things he said are inconsistent with prior statements.
The Anito family's attorney said there's no way Van Morgan could have driven past the wrecked vehicle and did not see it.
