Former Tallassee assistant police chief faces more criminal charges

ELMORE CO., AL (WSFA) - Former Tallassee Police Chief Chris Miles is facing more criminal charges after an Elmore County Grand Jury indicted him Wednesday on second degree burglary and second degree theft charges.

The latest indictments against Miles, 41, of Eclectic, stem from an August 2013 burglary of a property on West Butler Street in Tallassee in which a firearm was allegedly taken.

"Chris Miles is a prime example of someone who does not deserve to wear the badge of law enforcement," said District Attorney Randall Houston. "He abused his power as an officer and abused the trust of the public, which he swore to protect and serve. These charges, coupled with the federal charges against him, should ensure he never has the opportunity to do it again."

The district attorney's reference to federal charges relates to the four federal indictments, including deprivation of rights and obstruction of justice, brought against the former law enforcement officer back in November. Miles reportedly used a phone book and reams of paper to beat coerced confessions from a suspect in a heinous child sex abuse case that included more than 100 charges.

"When Chris started this downhill slide there was a lot of stuff that happened," Houston admitted. "I don't know what his reasons were, but I know when he started downhill, he took a lot of dirt with him."

Miles was fired from the police department in 2013.

Houston confirmed in a press statement that the federal charges are associated with the investigation developed by the State Bureau of Investigation that led to the latest indictment.

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