Bradley County Commissioner Mark HallCLEVELAND, Tenn. -- A police response to a domestic argument has led to questions about Bradley County 7th District Commissioner Mark Hall's residency.
Police were called on Halloween night to 2280 Woodchase Close, where Renee Hall complained that her husband, Mark, had yelled and cursed at her and gotten into her room with a skeleton key after she locked herself in.
Responding officer Raul Cruz's report listed both Halls as residents of the Woodchase Close home.
But the house lies outside the district Mark Hall represents. It's in District 3, not District 7.
Tennessee law says public officials elected by districts must live within those districts. If an elected official moved outside his district, that seat would be considered vacant.
Hall and his wife both say he doesn't live in the house, although the deed states that the two bought it together in 2012.
The Halls both said Mark Hall lives in an apartment on Harrison Pike, in the 7th District.
Hall said the officer may have assumed that he and his wife live together since they are spouses.
"My wife bought that property to take care of her parents before we were married a couple of years ago," Hall said by phone on Tuesday.
The Harrison Pike address is listed as his residence on Bradley County Election Commission documents; his mailing address is at his barbershop on Keith Street.
Fran Green, Bradley County elections administrator, said her office has not received any complaints about Hall's residency. If someone made a complaint, she said, the elections office would refer it to the district attorney's office.
The police report said Renee Hall complained her husband chased her and tried to prevent her from leaving the residence.
"Ms. Hall stated she was able to get to her car, lock herself in and call the police," said Cruz's narrative. "She stated while she was on the phone with dispatch, Mr. Hall was laying on the hood of her car screaming at her, saying she could not leave."
Renee Hall drove away and met police near Mayfield Elementary School. She asked them to come back to the house so she could get some belongings.
"Ms. Hall stated she wanted Mr. Hall out of the home but she knew he would not leave," Cruz wrote.
Hall asked Cruz why the police were there and why his wife was crying, according to the report. Cruz responded by saying "she must be upset."
Cruz stated he saw no signs of physical abuse and did not arrest Hall. The report cited the offense of intimidation.
Although Hall's wife said there had been "no physical assault" that evening, Cruz reported that she said that her husband "had been physical with her in the past, but she never reported it."
She requested a copy of the incident report because she no longer wants to remain silent about the "abuse" and would consult an attorney and seek an order of protection, Cruz said.
Mark Hall said the allegations are "simply not true."
He described the incident as a "domestic argument that lasted no longer than 30 or 45 seconds."
Renee Hall refused to comment on the details of the incident report, stating it was a personal matter between her and her husband.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.