ALLEN, Tex. – Ellen Bevers said an alleged accident led to her arrest at a grocery store. She said she forgot to pay for $57 worth of groceries after going through a self-checkout stand according to KDFW in Dallas. The incident landed Bevers in jail, charged with class B misdemeanor theft. Lucky for her, a powerful family member came to her assistance.
Bevers is the wife of Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst’s nephew. Dewhurst called the non-emergency line at the Allen Police Department and asked to speak to the most senior officer. The police department released the tape to the media.
“If you would explain to me, sergeant, what I need to do to arrange for getting her out of jail this evening…so that you can proceed with whatever you think is proper,” Dewhurst said during the phone call.
Dewhurst also claimed that he was a law enforcement supporter and the, ‘Number one pick of all the law enforcement agencies within Texas.’
The phone call drew sharp criticism from other lawmakers, claiming an abuse of power. Others painted the incident in a more humorous light.
Dew’s call to Allen PD sounds like Anchorman Ron Burgundy: “I don’t know how to put this, but I’m kind of a big deal. People know me.”
— Todd Staples (@Todd_Staples) August 22, 2013
A spokesman for Dewhurst, Travis Considine, said that he was simply acting as a concerned family member. Bevers is out of jail and her case is being investigated by the Collin County District Attorney’s Office.
Editor’s note: The video above erroneously reports that Bevers is Dewhurst’s sister-in-law. This error likely happened because that’s how Dewhurst referred to her in the phone call with police. He has since released a statement referring to Bevers as his niece.
