UPDATED TUESDAY @ 6:33 AM 12:05 PM Houston County Sheriff Terminates Criminal Investigator

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Aug 05 2024 12:23 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY: Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza has terminated Chris Summerlin as a Houston County Sheriff Deputy assigned to Criminal Investigation Division. The termination took place this past Thursday.

The termination comes following as Internal Investigation conducted by Barry Tucker, a retired Alabama Law Enforcement Agency - State Bureau of Investigation Captain. Tucker is employed by Houston County Sheriff Donald valenza to conduct Internl Investigations involving complaints on employees of Houston County Sheriff Department.

The termination involves the alleged theft of $ 2,200.00 of the money in a Robbery of Midsouth Bank in Ashford on May 3, 2022. The robberyof Midsouth Bank, reports indicate $ 4,500.00 was taken in the robbery. The Sheriff Department $ 2,200.00 of that money was missing.

Arrested by Houston County Sheriff Criminal Investigator Chris Summerlin, after stand off, was Sterling Lee Howell of Ashford. Howell was arrested within a short period of time following the robbery. The case officer was investigator Chris Summerlin.

On April 29, 2024 Sterling Lee Howell appeared before 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Chris richardson and entered a guilty plea for Robbery in the first degree. Judge Richardson sentenced Howell to LIFE in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Following the plea the 20th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Office was attempting to return the money stolen to the victim, Midsouth Bank. That is when it was discovered that $ 2,200.00 was missing.

The Internal Affairs Investigation was initiated. All officers involved in the case were questioned concerning the missing money. Information reveals Investigator Chris Summerlin was scheduled for a polygraph test. When completing the pre-polygraph paperwork reports are Investigator Summerlin asked to speak to Internal Affairs Investigator Barry Tucker. UNCONFIRMED reports are that Investigator Summerlin confessed to taking the money. Again UNCONFIRMED.

With a zero tolerance for such, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza immediately terminated Investigator Chris Summerlin from the Sheriff Department. A report will also follow to APOST to have Summerlin's law enforcement credintials pulled.

The immediate supervisor and supervision over the vault and/or staff is reported to be Houston County Sheriff Sgt. Ricky Herring. Herring serves three masters, a Sergeant with Houston County Sheriff Department ( salary plus overtime ), A Houston County Commissioner ( app. $ 44,000.00 a year to include auto allowance ), and owns a private business. This theft makes it apparent that it's hard to effectively manage any one of the three correctly.

Sheriff Donald Valenza is reported to have called a meeting of everyone assigned to Criminal Investigation Division on Tuesday.

THIS internal theft is not a reflection of Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza, the Captain or Lieutenant of Criminal investigation Division of Houston County Sheriff Department, or the Investigators assigned to Criminal Investigation Division. With a staff of some 200 in the department, at times the ones trusted the most let you down.

Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza will not tolerate such.

UPDATED @ 6:33 AM

An arrest warrant was sworn out for former Houston County Sheriff Criminal Investigator Chris Summerlin. The arrest warrant was for Theft of Property.

Summerlin turned himself into the Houston County Jail where he posted a $ 5,000.00 bond and was later released on bond.

Howell Plea Agreement by Rickey Stokes on Scribd

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