Suspended officer faces new charge


GREENFIELD – A central-Indiana police lieutenant suspended after being accused of trying to get fellow officers to ticket his ex-wife now faces a felony charge of promoting prostitution.
The charge was filed Wednesday against Lt. Terry Austin of the Greenfield Police Department after an internal investigation said it found text messages that he offered two women $200 to have sex with him and a visiting policeman from Florida, the Indianapolis Star reported.
The internal investigation began after Austin, 42, of McCordsville was arrested in April on bribery and misconduct charges for allegedly offering fellow officers a $200 steak dinner to pull over and ticket his ex-wife.
Court records indicate a friend who’s an officer with the Port St. Lucie Police Department in Florida was in town visiting family when he sent Austin a text message Jan. 13 asking whether Austin had found him a date, and Austin replied, “I’m workn on it!!”
The second woman told police the plan was never carried out. She said she had met Austin through an online dating site.

Police found no evidence the Florida officer knew Austin was offering money to the women for sex.