Quantcast
MobileRJ | RSS TwitterTwitter FacebookFacebook E-mail Alerts
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon

sponsored by
News
Oct. 01, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Ex-cop linked to HOA probe clearly carried burden before apparent suicide

JOHN L. SMITH
MORE COLUMNS

Discuss this column in the eForums!

In Metro Capt. Mark Tavarez's eyes, Christopher Van Cleef was a good cop and a better man.

Most Popular Stories
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • FATAL SHOOTING: Police again mourn comrade
  • NORM: Biden finds rank has its privileges
  • Corrections officer dies in collision on U.S. 95
  • Two suspects in officer's slaying could face death penalty
  • Two of three suspects in slaying of officer could face death penalty
  • DEADLY HOME INVASION: Police suspect link to family
  • ANOTHER SOMBER DAY: Fourth officer in short span dies
  • NORM: 'Girls Gone Wild' creator feels heat
  • Las Vegas police shoot at man fleeing after traffic stop
  • Las Vegas police shoot at man fleeing after traffic stop




    • "He was a great guy," Tavarez said Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after his friend Van Cleef was found dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

    "He was a fantastic guy. He was a great family man who was devoted to his wife and three sons. I've known him 25 years. He was a wonderful, outstanding human being who dedicated his life to this community."

    But it's clear Van Cleef also carried with him a burden he could not lay down.

    The body of the retired Metro lieutenant, whose name surfaced in an FBI and police investigation into public corruption involving homeowners associations and construction defect contractors and litigators, was discovered by a man walking his dog in Henderson in the desert area near the railroad tracks west of Green Valley Parkway and Warm Springs Road, police sources said. Henderson Police Department officers and the Clark County coroner's office were called to the scene at about 8:50 a.m.

    A source speaking with knowledge of the event said Van Cleef told his wife he was going to a shopping center not far from the couple's home. When she discovered he hadn't taken the family car, she called him to determine the reason. Van Cleef also called his friend, Tavarez, to ask the Metro captain to go to his home to be with his wife. Suspecting his friend was in emotional distress, a short time later Tavarez called Henderson police. By then, a body had been found and reported.

    Tavarez blames recent press accounts of the FBI's HOA investigation, specifically my own column, for placing undue pressure on Van Cleef.

    "I can't imagine it had anything to do with what you printed," Tavarez said sarcastically before backtracking slightly.

    "It sure didn't help, though, did it?"

    Defending his friend of 25 years, Tavarez said Van Cleef hadn't been questioned by the FBI in about three years and had never been subpoenaed in connection with the investigation. Tavarez was Van Cleef's captain at the time he retired.

    "Chris Van Cleef was a very honorable, decent, hard-working man," Tavarez said.

    Protests from friends aside, Van Cleef also found himself in the middle of an expanding public corruption investigation. Van Cleef and former Metro Capt. Frank Sutton purchased condominiums in developments whose homeowners associations are now under investigation for possible public corruption. High Noon, Pebble Creek, and Mission Ridge are the developments they had in common, Sutton said in an October 2007 deposition. The name of Sutton, who worked at Metro 25 years before retiring from the vice/narcotics unit, has also been mentioned in connection with the investigation.

    Sutton and Van Cleef were present at an HOA recall election involving the High Noon development after a court-appointed special master determined voting fraud had taken place.

    In his deposition under questioning by attorney Jack Juan, Sutton acknowledged the fraudulent ballot problems, but added, "I know what happened, but I left prior to that. ... I have no idea what actually occurred. Chris and I left. ... Chris Van Cleef and I. We left. We had some other stuff to do."

    Sutton then detailed his version of observing the start of the recall election with Van Cleef. Questions from the attorney focused on whether an extra box of ballots was delivered to the voting area.

    Sutton denied any connection.

    Then the question turned to Van Cleef's possible part in the questionable ballots.

    Juan: "Do you know if Van Cleef is behind those invalid ballots?"

    Sutton: "You'd have to ask him. But as far as I'm concerned, he's a real honest person ..."

    The High Noon elections are a piece of the strange, intriguing puzzle federal and local law enforcement are attempting to put together. It's clear Van Cleef might have been able to shed light on the goings-on at High Noon and other developments.

    The fiercely loyal Tavarez bristles at any notion that his friend was involved, but when questioned he also seemed at a loss to explain the apparent suicide.

    "Now his family has to go on without him," Tavarez said. "Sometimes the pressures of life are more than one person can bear."

    John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 43 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Sgt Schultz, CAI General Staff wrote on October 03, 2008 10:46 AM: Achtung! Achtung!

    Za CAI General Staff ist not happy mit some of der attitudes being posted here.

    You people should remember zat ven you bought der haus in der HOA, you submitted to der HOA und CAI.

    Ve vill haff none of ze funny business or der CAI gerjokin on ziz website!

    Sgt Schultz
    CAI General Staff

    p.s.

    Shhhhhh….

    I haf been here long enough to zee vich vay der war ist going. All of you should remember zat I am only a guard who must follow der CAI orders.

    But maybe I help you now mit intelligence und I stay out of za dock at Nurumberg, ya?

    Schultzie


    troutcatcher wrote on October 03, 2008 06:22 AM: Ben:

    You've got that right. They are a powerful group and appear to have the Nevada Real Estate Division/Ombudsman's office in their "hip pocket". Just recently their teary eyed founder tried to blame all this on one person. I wonder how well he will do convincing the media and FBI that there was just one culprit. Fast talk doesn't always equal brains.

    Who is Nancy Quon's radio broadcasting partner?


    Ben Dover, Homeowner wrote on October 02, 2008 03:00 PM: There is a thread that runs through most of what is happening here, Mr. Smith, and the story is much bigger than Mr. Van Cleef.

    The lawyers, vendors, management companies, and maybe some board members under investigation will have links to a trade asociation called the Community Association Institute, or CAI.

    Explore that link and you'll see that what's going on extends well beyond Vegas. Start with a google search on "CAI lawyers" and read about some of Nancy Quon's friends.

    And then write about it.

    Ben Dover, Homeowner


    Peace wrote on October 02, 2008 09:38 AM: I can only feel pity for you angry folks who judge so easily. You are a "fortunate" bunch to live without mistakes or errors in judgement. Fortunately for Chris, the only judge that matters now will have his entire life to evaluate. For all of us who love him and know him (myself for 30 years) remember that the whole of Chris was a great man, who went above and beyond any call of duty whether he was wearing a badge or not. I am proud to stand behind him. ILY, Chris.


    brett calloway wrote on October 02, 2008 07:42 AM: Truly feel bad for his boys and wife. How do they continue? The work ahead for Mrs. Van Cleef. Hope she gets some answers and closure. Continued prayer. What else is there?


    Reality Bites wrote on October 01, 2008 07:45 PM: This incredible dead guy was recruited, by his fellow senior retired Metro Officers, to become part of a MASSIVE swindle thats sole purpose was to RIP-OFF Homeowners.

    One of two things caused his demise:

    They killed him like a dog.

    He killed himself like a coward.

    Either way. He's dead. R.I.P.

    Sutton. Mattingly. Tavarez.
    The Three H.O.A. Stooges.
    Who's got the most to lose?

    7 Properties? Cop Salary?

    FOLLOW THE MONEY. COPS ARE DOLTS.


    d wrote on October 01, 2008 07:34 PM: All I know is I lived in a community that he was a board member at. Somehow him and Sutton won in a landslide and they didn't show up to the awards ceremony. As a matter of fact we never met them at all and have never even had a meeting since then. I hope the same thing don't happen to America next month.


    Peace wrote on October 01, 2008 06:34 PM: Chris was an incredible man, who served the community for many years. I grieve the burden that led to this decision. I will never forget him!


    pink wrote on October 01, 2008 04:35 PM: You people are out of line saying he didn't care about his family. I am really good friends with one of his sons, and saw first hand how much he loved his family. He made everyone laugh, and was very involved in the way we all grew up. He is 100% the last person who would have done this if the pressure hadn't grown too strong.
    you all need to save youre judgments because you don't know shit.


    K2 wrote on October 01, 2008 04:34 PM: Re: Fausto

    I know it is bigger. I just did not want to go there. There is not enough space to type the problems these homeonwers have endured. I'm glad I don't live in an HOA. You are correct.
    Runaway power and greed.


    Read All Comments