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HOA INVESTIGATION: Retired officer found dead

Van Cleef named in warrant tied to inquiry

A retired Las Vegas police lieutenant whose name surfaced in connection with an ongoing FBI and police probe into possible corruption involving homeowners associations was found dead of an apparent suicide in Henderson on Tuesday.

Christopher Van Cleef was one of three former and one current Metropolitan Police Department officers named in a warrant in the investigation last week.


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  • Being named in the warrant does not necessarily mean the person is the subject of an investigation.

    Henderson police spokesman Todd Rasmussen said officers were called out at 8:48 a.m. to a desert area near the railroad tracks at Green Valley Parkway between Warm Springs Road and Windmill Parkway.

    Van Cleef owns a home about a quarter of a mile away from the area.

    "They discovered a man that had committed suicide," Rasmussen said.

    He had suffered from a gunshot wound, Rasmussen said.

    The Clark County coroner's office had not identified the body on Tuesday.

    Henderson police are investigating the death and are working with the coroner's office to determine whether the death was officially a suicide, according to Rasmussen.

    Van Cleef was a member of the homeowners association at Pebble Creek Village, one of seven condominium complexes around the valley named in a federal warrant obtained by the Review-Journal.

    He retired in January 2005 after 25 years with the Metropolitan Police Department. His retirement came after he was arrested on a charge of drunken driving by the Utah Highway Patrol the previous fall.

    Las Vegas police were called out to Van Cleef's Henderson home about 9 a.m. Tuesday.

    "I think it was more of a courtesy to be with the family," Las Vegas police officer Bill Cassell said. "If there were family members (there), they were used to seeing a Metro uniform, and one showed up."

    Allegations of voter fraud have surfaced in a civil lawsuit at Pebble Creek Village, near Eastern Avenue and the Las Vegas Beltway.

    Van Cleef and two others named in the warrant were elected to the board in May.

    Former board president Jeremy Doering said he and other owners at the complex have successfully recalled the three from their board positions, but they've refused to step down.

    At least one owner at the complex has complained to the Nevada Real Estate Division's ombudsman's office of duplicate ballots being submitted during the May election.

    Doering and other residents of the complex have said that although the development does not have any serious defects, Van Cleef and the other two board members had talked of filing a construction defect lawsuit.

    Van Cleef, Doering said, had talked briefly at the meetings about how it "would be a good idea if we had Nancy Quon look into any defects." Quon, a prominent construction defect lawyer, had her office raided by the FBI and Las Vegas police on Friday, according to media reports.

    Nine other locations around the valley last week also were raided, including the headquarters of Silver Lining Construction, owned by Leon Benzer.

    The FBI was seeking "any and all documentation, correspondence and notes" relating to 43 people, including Quon, according to the warrant served at one of the nine locations and obtained by the Review-Journal.

    According to a law enforcement source, the FBI is investigating whether individuals were placed on homeowners association boards and, in turn, directed business stemming from construction defect lawsuits to select companies.

    The FBI did not return calls seeking comment about Van Cleef's death on Tuesday.

    Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.

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    Report abuse

    Kris wrote on October 10, 2008 01:11 PM: You people are horrible. I personally know the family really well and i think you should just be quiet. Not alot of people agree what the family members do is right. But that doesnt mean when chris is gone you can bash him. Thats rude. Especially on here. PLEASE be respectful and just let him at rest. You are the most ignorant bunch of people.


    Report abuse

    Peace wrote on October 06, 2008 10:41 AM: Pity is all I can feel for you hate filled folks. The reality of your "error" free lives will surely smack you in the face and you too will be judged by this militia. For Chris, the only judge that matters now, will have the entirety of his life to see. For the rest of us who truly know Chris, (myself for 30 years), we were blessed with his greatness and his love for everyone. Our love for him continues.......... I can't help but wonder if after 25 years of dealing with the hardest part of society, he knew he was facing the quick and irrational judgement that is seen here. Added to the pressure is the unrestrained bias and hate you all so readily dish towards police officers on a unrelenting basis in general, he may have felt he overwhelmed. Judging from you all that appears to be pretty valid. I just wish he knew that he has many, many more people who stand beside him than this hateful bunch. As he is laid to rest today, a piece of our hearts go with him. Thank you Chris for you.


    Report abuse

    MistressCarmelle wrote on October 04, 2008 04:13 AM: Does anybody know if Park Avenue Las Vegas is involved in any of these investigations? Several of the names in this article are people who have or had some type of connection to Park Avenue Las Vegas...Nancy Quon, Frank Sutton, Silver Lining Construction...uh oh..I better stop paying my dues.


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    MistressCarmelle wrote on October 04, 2008 04:12 AM: Does anybody know if Park Avenue Las Vegas is involved in any of these investigations? Several of the names in this article are people who had some type of connection to Park Avenue Las Vegas...Nancy Quon, Frank Sutton, Silver Lining Construction...uh oh..I better stop paying my dues.


    Report abuse

    Flying Frogs wrote on October 03, 2008 11:13 AM: Frogs:
    Drunk on Arville right behind the Orleans? You mean near Arville and Nevso? Well that would be the intersection where Silver Lining/Benzer's is/was located! In this big valley and you just happened to run into him there. Flip a coin a million times and it just might coincidentally/ circumstantially come up heads everytime.


    Report abuse

    Frog's can Fly wrote on October 02, 2008 06:58 PM: Are we talkin about the same Frank Sutton. Retired Metro Captain?

    I watched him fall off his bar stool more than once. Real tough guy.
    Surrounds himself with idiots.
    One of them threatened me for no reason. Drunk and Disorderly.

    Bartender(that cut him off) told me that his name was FRANK. RETIRED METRO CAPTAIN. Frank threatened her on the way out. Said he'd never be back.

    Watched him crawl into his white SUV that morning, and damn neasr kill everyone on Arville out behind the Orleans. If not for pure luck, several would have died because of his actions.

    I saw his picture on channel 8 this evening. That's the guy I watched crawl into his white SUV. I didn't know who he was. I have no doubt. It was him. He needs to be reeled in.

    R.J. - Please dig into his driving record. How many DUI's? When?
    Was he on Duty when they occurred?
    I heard that Metro retired him after several incidents while on duty. This guy's a mess. If Frank Sutton has an IDENTICAL twin that was a Metro Police Captain, I apologize to Frank in advance. It could be a coincidence.


    His friend and business partner was just found dead of a gun shot wound.

    Where were the Sutton Twins when that happened? Inquiring minds want to know.


    Report abuse

    mxb wrote on October 02, 2008 01:44 PM: does anyone recall then Sgt. Sutton getting busted with a prostitute in his unmarked police car by metro vice some years back?? Then promoted to LT the next week.. No corruption there huh Keller..Young??


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    5 neutral points wrote on October 01, 2008 11:48 PM: 1. some people can "appear" good, but have corrupt mind.

    2. Are cops required to take "ethics" courses during their employment?

    3. If he was corrupt "after" retirement, I suspect he was corrupt before.

    4. One chooses a job for various reasons, and it is not to act like "heros". If that is the case, then everyone is a hero, especially the drive-though employees who hand food over to us at fast-food places.

    5. I hope those who own units at the suspect HOAs have not lost too much. That is the real issue of this HOA investigation. They are the real Victims.


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    Al Davis wrote on October 01, 2008 09:38 PM: You're absolutely right, my little Daulphin.
    He killed himself because the Raiders are the worst team in the NFL.
    What a NUTBAG! Grow a blow hole.


    Report abuse

    d wrote on October 01, 2008 09:37 PM: daulphin,

    The problem was that it didn't matter if you wanted to be on the board; if they wanted your seat they would somehow get it. Time and time again.


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