'Respected officer of the Kingwood Patrol Division' in Houston shot, injured in the line of duty

On July 5, Houston police officer Sam Cleveland was shot while responding to a disturbance at an apartment complex.

Officer Cleveland was shot several times and suffered wounds to his abdomen and left arm. He was taken to HCA-Houston Healthcare Kingwood in critical, but stable condition.  

"Please keep Houston Police Department Police Officer Sam Cleveland in your prayers," Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin wrote in a July 6 Facebook post. "Officer Cleveland was shot in the arm and abdomen, with the round fired at this abdomen successfully stopped by his protective vest. Officer Cleveland is and has been a respected officer of the Kingwood Patrol Division for several years and a valuable member of the Kingwood Community. I wish him an easy and speedy recovery."

Cleveland and other Houston patrol officers were responding to a call from a female tenant at the 200 Northpines Drive apartment complex who said that a man spit on her during a confrontation over a parking spot, Click 2 Houston News reported. The suspect was identified as Michael Zachary Howard-Dale, a 26-year-old white male who also lived at an apartment in the complex.

When officers went to Howard-Dale's apartment to make contact with him, the suspect refused to comply with instructions to produce his personal identification and eventually got into a physical altercation with the officers. During the confrontation, Howard-Dale drew a pistol and fired at the officers, striking Officer Cleveland in the arm and abdomen, according to a release from the Houston PD.

Cleveland's ballistic vest successfully protected him from the shot to his abdomen. He was later transported by Houston Fire Department paramedics to HCA-Houston Healthcare Kingwood hospital.

“Officer Cleveland has always been in my opinion, one of the nicest most genuine people,” Patrick Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association and a personal friend of Cleveland, told Click 2 Houston News. “He is always ready to help, always ready to serve.”

Howard-Dale has been booked into the Montgomery County Jail for his actions. He has been charged with aggravated assault on a public servant and his bond is set at $200,000.

Officer Cleveland is assigned to the Kingwood Patrol Division and has been serving since November 2009.  

Cleveland's family has set up a Gofundme Fundraiser to receive donations for the wounded officer.