Salem-Based Domestic Abuse Organization's New Director Arrested on Warrant out of Texas

SALEM, MA — The executive director-to-be of a Salem-based domestic violence organization was arrested Wednesday morning on a fugitive of justice warrant stemming from allegations by a previous employer in Texas.

Paula Herrington, the interim executive director of HAWC located on Congress Street, told Patch that the organization's newly-named executive director Rachel Morgan was arrested at the organization's offices Wednesday morning at around 10 a.m. The Texas-based Herald Democrat reports that Morgan is accused of stealing funds from the Grayson Crisis Center in Sherman, TX.

The Herald Democrat reports that the theft was more than $2,500 and less than $30,000, and that an arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday.

"All I can say is at this point its an allegation," Herrington told Patch."We are appropriately concerned and doing what we can to find out more."

Herrington also said that Morgan had been hired to assume the role as the organization's executive director earlier this month, but that she had not yet assumed the role. She also added that Morgan was taken into custody without incident.

The Salem News reports that Morgan, 35, of Gloucester is being held without bail until Texas authorities take her into custodyfollowing arraignment in Salem District Court.

"We certainly had no prior knowledge[of the allegations]," said Herrington."There's no way we would have known about it."

The Salem Police Department was not immediately available for further comment.

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