COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!
THE $2 of every $100 spent here funds local schools
WEDNESDAY STATE BOUND! Wildcats tennis advances to tournament, Page 8.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 April 20, 2016 Vol. 124, No.79 www.alexcityoutlook.com
City votes to settle shooting suit By MITCH SNEED Editor
Insurance to pay $500,000 over officer-involved shooting at Huddle House
A settlement has been reached in the federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the heirs of a man who died after being shot by police at Huddle House on March 8, 2014. The City Council approved a $500,000 settlement that will be paid by Trident, the city’s insurance carrier, to the 4-year-old daughter of Emerson Crayton Jr. As a part of the settlement, the city admits to no wrongdoing. As City Attorney Larkin Radney indicated, the
settlement was negotiated by the insurance carrier and was preferable to putting the city at risk of mounting costs that would result from a protracted legal battle. Emerson Crayton Jr. died after being shot by Alexander City Police Officer Tommy Maness after a late-night incident at the Huddle House on Highway 280. The officer had reported that he shot in order to stop the vehicle, which he believed was attempting to run over him.
A Tallapoosa County grand jury decided not to prosecute Maness in May 2014. Attorneys Julian McPhillips and Eric Hutchins represent Kolea Burns, the mother of Crayton’s 3-year-old daughter. They filed a lawsuit against the City of Alexander City, Maness, Huddle House, Huddle House owners Daniel Yates and Lynn Patterson and LeGina Watson, manager of the Huddle House on the night the shooting occurred. Montgomery attorney Julian
McPhillips, who represents the family, said a settlement of $100,000 was reached with the insurance carrier for Huddle House in addition to the city settlement. “There is no amount of money in heaven or on earth that will eliminate the wrong that was done here,” McPhillips said Tuesday. “Emerson Crayton Jr. had committed no crime, was not armed and we are not even sure See SUIT• Page 5
Couple charged with abuse after horse’s death
McDaniel’s preliminary hearing delayed
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Continuance granted with June 28 set as new hearing date
A Tallapoosa County couple has been charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals following the death of a horse on Flournoy Road. Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said the horse died due to severe malnourishW. Sheridan ment, but the couple will be able to keep their other two horses, for now. “We are monitoring those Lori Sheridan horses,” Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said. See HORSE • Page 7
Today’s
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By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City Police Cpl. Marcus Billups, above, hands out brochures on Main Street to help promote rail crossing safety. Below, Nancy Hudson with Operation Lifesaver speaks as the group kicks off a 40-city tour.
OPERATION LIFESAVER Group kicks off 40-city tour in Alexander City By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Alabama Operation Lifesaver kicked off a 40-city tour designed to promote safety at the state’s public and private railroad crossings on Tuesday in Alexander City. Nancy Hudson, executive director of Alabama Operation Lifesaver, said the See TOUR • Page 7
Circuit Court Judge Kim Taylor has granted a motion by the defense team for accused killer Matthew Clate McDaniel to delay a preliminary hearing set for Wednesday until June 28. Taylor granted the motion for continuance Monday, which was filed earlier this month due to a large number of witnesses anticipated being called by the defense at the hearing. McDaniel, 33, of Dadeville is charged with murder in the Jan. 17 shooting death of Norman Dean Crayton. At a first call hearing Tuesday, Judge Kim Taylor set a preliminary hearing for April 20 at 1:30 p.m. McDaniel was arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 17 after hunters found Crayton’s body in a wooded area off Barron’s Bridge Road south of Dadeville. A release from Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds. McDaniel was released from jail on See DELAY • Page 7
School board OKs policy for virtual school
Coyotes attack, kill children’s pet birds Officials say nuisance animals are encroaching on city
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.47 Reported on 4/12916 @ 5 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Steve Cook was visibly distraught Monday morning. The Alexander City resident had awakened to a horrible sight – two dead Chinese geese and one dead Peking duck. The birds belonged to his grandchildren. They had been killed by coyotes. “The geese must have been asleep and the coyotes grabbed them,” Cook said. “They can be pretty loud sometimes, but they See COYOTES • Page 5
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Steve Cook looks over two geese and a duck killed by coyotes Monday. Cook said the birds belonged to his grandchildren.
The Alexander City Board of Education unanimously approved a policy for its virtual school, which it began offering at the beginning of the school year, at its April meeting Tuesday night at Stephens Elementary School. “We’ve had our virtual school up and running since the beginning of the school year,” said Darrell Cooper, superintendent of Alexander City Schools. “However, adoption of this policy tonight means we are in compliance with the state law requiring that we develop a policy for the See SCHOOLS • Page 7
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