CPD Reports Hale Admits to the Killing of Local
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LOCAL NEWS: SPORTS: SAR chapter Copeland, Curry installs Dr. Paul named all-state: Conn: Page 4 Page 9 Cole Copeland KK Curry Cleveland Businessman Allan Jones Named To TIAAA award: Page 5 162nd YEAR • No. 285 18 PAGES • 50¢ CLEVELAND, TN 37311 THE CITY WITH SPIRIT FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 Roane man CPD reports loses bid to have his Hale admits conviction to the killing overturned By BRIAN GRAVES of local man [email protected] A Roane County man who threatened to kill a Cleveland Thomas Creek’s body attorney has lost his bid to have his conviction overturned. Leon Houston was found guilty found in Polk County by a jury in 2015 in the U.S. District Court in Knoxville on the By ALLEN MINCEY [email protected] charge of making a threat via interstate commerce. The suspect in the death of a Cleveland man whose A three-judge panel from the body was dumped in a remote area of Polk County has Banner photo, ALLEN MINCEY Sixth District Court of Appeals reportedly admitted he fired the fatal gunshots that upheld the conviction in a ruling CLEVELAND POLICE CHIEF Mark Gibson, at the podium, answers questions on the recent homicide of Thomas Creek Jr., and about bones from a possible missing person, at a press conference Thursday morning. killed Thomas Creek Jr. passed down last week. Sean Scott Hale, 26, was located in the Fort Payne, Houston had Behind Gibson are officers investigating the two incidents. From left are Detective Daniel Gibbs, Capt. Stacy Ala., area on Wednesday, and was taken into custody been defended Smith, Capt. Robert Harbison, Detective Andy Wattenbarger, and officer Cody Henson. by the police department there. He by attorney was in the company of his brother, James Logan and they were located walking along during two tri- the shoulder of Interstate 59. als on state Human skull could be a missing Previous reports had Hale being murder apprehended at a convenience store charges in the on the interstate. killings of Cleveland resident, CPD suspects According to Sgt. Evie West of the Roane County Cleveland Police Department, Hale Deputy Bill By ALLEN MINCEY Cleveland Police Department who that person might be, pending was walking with his brother, Brian, Houston Jones and for- [email protected] revealed more skeletal remains analysis by the forensic center in when approached by police there, mer law about 150 yards north of the Knoxville, where the remains were with Sean Scott Hale giving false enforcement What were first thought to be Wesdell Lane address. The majority taken by the Bradley County information to authorities. His broth- Hale officer Mike bones from an animal that a dog of the remains were in a wooded Medical Examiner’s office. er actually told the police their identities, and a BOLO Brown. brought to his owner’s home ended area off Glenmore Drive, which “The missing person that we are (be on the lookout) call for Hale gave police there a rea- A mistrial up being human remains. was cordoned off to allow police to looking at has been unaccounted son to detain the two. was declared Cleveland Police were notified process the scene and collect the for for less than a year,” Gibson Brian Hale was not charged at the time, according to in the case in Wednesday morning, around 7:30, remains. said. Cleveland Police Chief Mark Gibson. 2008; however, that a human skull had been While the body was found in a Gibson said when the remains Gibson said that local detectives are checking into a jury acquit- brought to a home at 3101 Wesdell Cleveland neighborhood, it was in were located, there was no evi- the motive for the homicide. He did say that it ted Houston Lane, just off Peerless Road. The a heavily wooded area of that por- dence of foul play. He did not say appeared Creek was shot at least twice, and that during a sec- dog had been bringing bones to the tion of the road. Wesdell Lane runs how long it might be before a posi- occurred in a vehicle occupied by Sean Scott Hale. An ond trial in home for several days, but the parallel to Peerless Road. tive identification is made. autopsy will reveal if any more gunshot wounds were Logan 2009. canine’s owner, who was not iden- Cleveland Police Chief Mark This is the second body that the present, and which might have led to the Cleveland Logan even- tified by police, considered them to Gibson said Thursday that the Cleveland Police Department has man’s death. tually foreclosed on the property be from an animal, as they were department has not made a posi- been investigating this week. Creek had been reported missing by his family on of Houston’s father, which had not easily identifiable. The skull tive identification on the person Thomas Creek Jr. of Cleveland was March 23, and witnesses said the last time they saw been held as security of payment gave the owner a different opinion who apparently passed away at reportedly killed and his body him was on March 14. Gibson said that reports were of services, after the attorney on the bones, leading to the call to that site. He did say it is possible dumped into a ravine in a remote that Hale picked up Creek at Tennova Healthcare after sought payment for his services. local authorities. they are from a missing person area of Polk County. he was released from the facility, where he had been Logan had been named adminis- Additional bones were found who, while not having resided in “There has been a lot of hard for undisclosed medical purposes. trator of Clyde Houston’s estate around the dog’s kennel area, and that area, had frequently been shortly before Leon Houston further investigation by the seen there. He would not identify See SKULL, Page 5 See KILLING, Page 5 made the calls to his girlfriend, Pat Honeycutt. According to court records, the calls were made from the Blount County Jail on Feb.10, 2013. It Brenda Lawson named was during those calls Houston made the threats concerning Logan. Houston was being held as CSCC’s top ‘Person’ at the time on federal gun charges. By CHRISTY ARMSTRONG “We seek to honor those in As stated in his charge, he [email protected] our community who exemplify called his girlfriend and repeat- the ideal of always putting com- edly said either he or any of “his Local business leader and philan- munity before self.” people” would kill Logan. thropist Brenda Brown Lawson has — Dr. Bill Seymour Those calls were routed been named Cleveland State through a Louisiana computer Community College’s “Community First server, which allowed prosecu- Person of the Year.” He explained the award recognition tors to place the charge of trans- She was given the award during the was also a chance for the college to mitting a threat via interstate college’s second annual awards gala, continue to promote living out the col- commerce on Houston. held Thursday night at First Baptist lege’s motto — “Community First.” Houston was found guilty of Church. This year’s CSCC Community First the charge in 2013, but the Sixth During the event nine people were Award winners were: Circuit Court vacated the convic- honored with Community First Awards n Arts: Mary Beth Wickes — Director tion and was sent back for a new in each of their fields, and one was of Accompanying, Lee University School trial. posthumously honored for his contri- of Music, Cleveland; He was found guilty again butions. With the nine category win- n Business: Debbie Melton — during a 2015 trial and was sen- ners having previously been General manager/partner, Don Ledford tenced to time served and announced, Lawson was surprised with Automotive Center, Cleveland; released from custody. the top honor. n Education: Jonathan Pierce — Houston had claimed in his “We seek to honor those in our com- Career and Technical Education appeal the judge in that case Banner photo, DANIEL GUY munity who exemplify the ideal of Supervisor for McMinn County Schools, had erred when the jury was BRENDA LAWSON receives her 2017 CSCC Community First Person of the Year always putting community before self,” Athens; award from the previous year's winner, Brenda Hughes, left, and CSCC President Dr. said Cleveland State President Dr. Bill See ROANE, Page 5 Bill Seymour. Seymour. See LAWSON, Page 5 AROUND TOWN WEATHER INDEX Abigail Rose Lescher excited Today looks to be partly sunny, with Church..............................6-7 Opinion...............................12 about winning the Bright Star award a high near 67. Tonight’s forecast calls for reading all the books on her Classified......................16-17 Stocks...................................4 reading list ... Cathy Leamon happy for mostly cloudy skies, with a low to finally obtain a double oven ... around 47. Saturday should be sunny, Comics...............................13 Sports............................ 9-11 6489076 75112 Madilyn Crane receiving the “most with a high around 70. Saturday night Horoscope..........................13 TV Schedule................14-15 improved” cheerleading award at should be clear and cool, with a low Chilhowee Middle School. around 45. Obituaries.............................2 Weather................................8 2—Cleveland Daily Banner—Friday, March 31, 2017 www.clevelandbanner.com OBITUARIES (USPS 117-700) Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 Post Office POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to: Banner, P.O. Box 3600, Cleveland, TN 37320-3600 from 5 until 7 p.m. in Oklahoma, a daughter of the Published at 1505 25th Street, NW (P.O. Box 3600) To submit an obituary, have the funeral home or cremation You are encouraged to share a late Paul and Edith Alford.