The man indicted for killing Pikeville Police Officer Scotty Hamilton pleaded not guilty in a Pike Co. courtroom on Thursday. John Russell Hall has been indicted on murder charges in the shooting death of Officer Hamilton on March 13 in the Hurricane Creek community of Pike Co. Following the shooting, Hall spent about 36 hours on the run before Police located him at a home on the Pike/Floyd Co line in the Betsy Layne area of Floyd Co. The judge told prosecutors during Thursday’s hearing they must decide whether they will seek the death penalty before the next hearing. A pre-trial conference is set for May 24. Hall is being held without bond.
