Maypearl’s police chief is under investigation for online solicitation of a minor, and Texas Rangers searched his house and office over the weekend, authorities said.
The probe focuses on 49-year-old Maypearl Police Chief Kevin Coffey, according to search warrants released late Monday.
The Ellis County District Attorney's office and the Texas Rangers began an investigation after the parents of a 16-year-old girl complained, according to the warrants.
Coffey first contacted the girl on Facebook two years ago when she was 14 years old, investigators said, and ended up messaging her almost every day.
Some of the texts were sexually explicit like "You have a nice body" and other comments far more graphic, according to the warrants.
In one case, he sent her a photo of himself holding handcuffs with the message, "One of these days hahaha," authorities said.
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The girl told investigators that Coffey was also communicating with as many as five other girls, the warrants said.
Rangers seized computers from Coffey's home in Grandview and his office at the Maypearl police department on Saturday. They also seized his cell phones and body camera, which he apparently wore on duty.
Maypearl is a town of about 1,000 residents located about halfway between Waxahachie and Grandview.[[314633651,L]]
Mayor Adele Mooney said Coffey had been placed on paid administrative leave. At a previously scheduled city council meeting Monday night, there was no official discussion among city leaders about the police chief.
Coffey was hired as Maypearl police chief two years ago.
Asked about the investigation on Sunday, Coffey denied he had been arrested but did not comment on whether his home or office had been searched.
“No member of this department including myself has been arrested,” he said in an email. “I am not sure where you got your tip but I think someone is pulling your leg.”
Coffey could not be reached Monday for comment. His cell phone went straight to voice mail.
The chief has not posted any recent comments on his Twitter page.
According to his Twitter profile, “I’m a single dad and police officer from New York now living in Texas, that enjoys meeting new people and making friends.”
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