Texas group ends hunt for ex-police chief in child sex probe

Michael Shane Palmer, 44, disappeared early Monday, after the Brazoria County District AttorneyÂs Office executed a search warrant at his home in a probe of alleged child sexual assault and child pornography. less Michael Shane Palmer, 44, disappeared early Monday, after the Brazoria County District AttorneyÂs Office executed a search warrant at his home in a probe of alleged child sexual assault and child ... more Photo: Brazoria County SO Photo: Brazoria County SO Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Texas group ends hunt for ex-police chief in child sex probe 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Texas Equusearch has suspended its search for the former West Columbia police chief who disappeared this week amid allegations of sexual assault of a child and child pornography.

Michael Shane Palmer, 44, disappeared early Monday, after the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at his home in a probe of alleged child sexual assault and child pornography.

Palmer was under indictment on six counts of tampering with physical evidence, three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of criminal episode - the commission of two or more offenses, according to Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne.

No arrest warrant has been issued for Palmer, who is scheduled to appear Aug. 12 before state District Court Judge K. Randall Hufstetler of the Brazoria County 300th District Court.

Texas Equusearch suspended its search Thursday, but Palmer's friends and family are continuing to look for him, an official at the organization said.

He was last seen about around 9:15 a.m. Monday in Angleton in a red F-150 with the license plate number 15R KY7, officials said.

Palmer was arrested in February after a search of his office at the West Columbia Police Department uncovered a "black box" with multiple CDs, leather items, sex devices and a bondage mask, according to a search warrant issued by the Brazoria County DA's Office.

He was released on bond on Feb. 22, Brazoria County Jail records show.

The continuing investigation focuses on Palmer's alleged sexual assault of an 8-year-old boy from 1998 to 2004 at homes in Lake Jackson and West Columbia, court records show.

In one of the alleged assaults, the boy told investigators, Palmer restrained him with handcuffs and blindfolded him with a mask that only had a breathing hole, according to the search warrant.

Investigators said that Palmer videotaped the sexual abuse and that some of the evidence was found at his West Columbia home.