Another Ellis County Observer exclusive: the Ennis PD was called in response to indecent exposure. If you’ll remember from last week, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office filed this as a disorderly conduct charge – a Class C misdemeanor which would not have been forwarded to the DA’s office (Don Hellstern is the husband of Joe Grubbs’ assistant Cindy).

The gist: Cindy was running for Court at Law No. 2 as a Democrat at the time of this incident with her husband. She later lost, but had this been made public, imagine the backlash then. A meeting was arranged at the ECSO with Grubbs, defense attorney Mary Lou Shipley (herself a former DA) and several ECSO investigators, who allege that Grubbs was hand-delivered the incident report from the ECSO. (he denied receiving it)

Readers, if you’re new to the Hellstern/Grubbs case, please click this link.

Pay attention to the bold text in this incident report.

[EPD206002963]

On 10/03, 2006 at approximately 15-20 hours I, Officer Jeffery Bates was relieving dispatch when I received a call from Ellis County Sheriff’s Department in regards to Palmer looking for an indecent exposure suspect.

Upon talking with ECSO dispatch they stated that Palmer was looking for a vehicle bearing TX LP (J25NJT), [a] wine colored Dodge Intrepid that was traveling south bound and took the 253 exit. ECSO stated that the vehicle showed a return out of our city on West Baylor Street.

Upon leaving the station and traveling down West Baylor I located the maroon Dodge Intrepid bearing TX LP (J25NJT). The vehicle was located at 400 W. Baylor and a brief check of the vehicle’s exhaust was warm to the touch. Upon attempting to make contact with a property owner at the location I was unsuccessful and was about to leave the location when a white male came out of the house and wanted to know if he could help me.

Upon speaking with the man who identified himself as Don Hellstern w/m DOB 04/14/51 I advised him that I was gathering information for Palmer Police Department in regards to a white male subject driving a vehicle like his bearing the exact license plate that was on his vehicle. I asked Hellstern how many people drive his vehicle and he advised that him and his wife drive the car. I asked him if he was driving the car earlier and he stated about an hour ago. I asked an hour and he stated well about thirty minutes ago.

Mr. Hellstern was advised that the incident was in regards to indecent exposure and that Palmer PD had a complainant who wanted to file charges and that any further information that he needed would have to be directed to the Palmer Police Department. The complainant in this incident is [######]. No complainant contact was made by Ennis PD in regards to this complaint. Palmer PD was contacted by me and all information to this incident was passed on to Palmer officer Mendez #402. No further information is available at this time.

Jackpot.

See Also: The Ellis County Press front page last week