Baytown officer accused of offering to scrap tickets for nude photos indicted on bribery charge

BAYTOWN, Texas – A former Baytown officer accused of trying to exchange tickets for sexually suggestive photos has been indefinitely suspended.

Thursday a grand jury indicted Michael Coppock, 33, for the offense of bribery which is a second-degree felony.

Baytown police said at a news conference on Thursday that Coppock is accused of pulling over an 18-year-old woman for a traffic stop and asked her to send him photos of her.

Police said if she did, he would have changed her tickets to warnings.

"The Baytown Police Department is a professional organization and we hold our personnel to a very high standard and those that do not adhere to those standards will be dealt with swiftly and accordance to the law," explained Lt. Steve Dorris with Baytown Police Department.

Coppock was a 9-year veteran with the Police Department. He was on the patrol division and also on the SWAT team, authorities said.

VIDEO: Baytown officials discuss the details behind the indictment and dismissal of an officer accused of scrapping tickets in exchange for nude 

Lt. Dorris outlined the investigation which started in April when the department received the initial complaint.

Authorities said on April 11, Coppock was served with a Notice of Investigation, which made him aware of the complaint against him and administrative investigation.

During that investigation, that's when they determined that Coppock's alleged actions may be criminal.

On April 17 Baytown's Criminal Investigation Division was notified and started its investigation.

During the two investigations, the department said it had enough evidence which showed the allegations to be valid.

Baytown Police Chief Keith Dougherty had Coppock surrender his badge and duty weapon on May 1.

He was then placed on non-enforcement status and reassigned to the station.

Two weeks later Coppock was indefinitely suspended, which police said is equivalent of a dismissal from the department.

On May 23, the findings of an internal affairs investigation were revealed to the District Attorney's Office and on May 25 a grand jury indicted Coppock, charging him with bribery.

A felony bribery charge was accepted by the DA's office Thursday.

The Baytown Police Department released the following statement:

"The Baytown Police Department takes allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct by our officers very seriously. The trust and confidence of our community is paramount and as such we hold our officers to the highest levels of integrity as well as moral, ethical and professional standards.

"Failure to adhere to those standards will not be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with the law. We ask that the community continue to place its trust and confidence in our organization as the actions of Mr. Coppock are not reflective of the other men and women of the Baytown Police Department who don the badge and uniform every day and proudly serve with integrity and honor. Rick Davis City Manager."

Police said Coppock is not in custody, and a warrant for his arrest has not been issued yet.

Dorris said the former officer and his legal counsel are aware of the indictment and will work with the district attorney's office when it comes to surrendering.

Investigators don't believe there are any other victims at this time.

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