La. Grand Jury Takes No Action Against Former Police Chief

A Calcasieu Parish, La., grand jury has decided to take no action against the former Vinton police chief who was arrested earlier this year on charges of extortion, malfeasance in office and insurance fraud, the Associated Press reported.

The grand jury left the case against Billy Ray Vice open for further review and it could be presented in the future to the same panel or a different one if more evidence is obtained.

At the time of Vice’s arrest, state police spokesman Sal Messina said Vice filed a false criminal report in February against his challenger, Ricky Fox, and threatened to make it public unless Fox dropped out.

Fox, a retired state trooper, unseated Vice by winning 56 percent of the vote in the April 2 election.

Vice is also accused of filing a false criminal report about a police chase, then using it in a phony insurance claim for a squad car.

Vice posted a $75,000 bond after his arrest in April.