Woman files complaint on Hillsboro mayoral candidate
Lead Summary
By
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By BRANDY CHANDLER
and RORY RYAN
Highland County resident Andrea West has filed a complaint with the Highland County Sheriff's Office against Hillsboro Republican candidate for mayor Drew Hastings.
West, 25, alleges in an April 16 report with the Highland County Sheriff's Office that she had received a "disturbing message on her Facebook page from her ex-boyfriend, Drew Hastings."
In a report to HCSO Officer Scott Cooper, West said that she and Hastings, 57, "were, at one time, seeing one another, but concluded that the relationship had ended."
West then said she had been accused by Hastings of "telling people they used to date, which upset Hastings."
West presented two pieces of paper to the HCSO which she said were from her Facebook page and, she said, were sent by Hastings.
In his report, Cooper said he came to the conclusion that West's complaint was "more civil slander than anything." West was advised to explain to Hastings she did not wish to "further any type of contact with him, and from that point on if the situation was not resolved, then criminal charges could be applied."
According to the HCSO report, Officer Cooper listened as West made a telephone call to Hastings' voicemail and left a message stating she no longer wanted any communications from Hastings.
Hastings contacted the HCSO and said the "situation between himself and Andrea was considered to be that of a stalking issue. (Hastings) stated that (West) repeatedly calls him even after the two had separated and that all he wanted was to be left alone."
Hastings told The Highland County Press Monday, May 23 that the report was nothing but allegations.
"Those were kind of wild allegations," Hastings said. "They were allegations. I would say anything regarding that matter can be directed to my attorney, J.D. Wagoner."
According to the HCSO report, "Drew did admit to sending the Facebook pages to Andrea and further stated, that looking back, it was not a good decision made on his behalf."
In an alleged Jan. 13 Facebook posting that West presented to the HCSO, Hastings is quoted as saying: "I am suddenly aware that my life is not working. I have a drug problem. I have an escape problem."
Hastings took out petitions as a candidate for mayor of Hillsboro on Jan. 20.
In an alleged April 16 Facebook posting that West presented to the HCSO, Hastings is quoted as saying: "You can decide to focus your energy on something else or you can be dragged into something very ugly and awkward. I promise I will do this to you if you do anything else. I will say it once more, if you contact any more of my people, I will contact the (Southern Ohio) Pregnancy Center (where West is associated) and it will not look good. …Don't cross me again."
According to that post, West quoted Hastings as saying, "Based on your previous methods, I believe you are behind the sign issue. You are smart enough to steal some of my signs, put them in your parents (sic) yard, then blame them on my people."
According to West's written statement she said, "Drew's threatening me to contact them scares me as well as breaks my heart. Because I do not want to be involved with him – he is retaliating."
The 57-year-old Hastings defeated Republican opponents Rod Daniels and Terry Mikkelsen Tuesday, May 3 during the primary election in the race for Hillsboro mayor, receiving unofficially 295 votes. Hastings will face Independent candidate John Levo in the November general election.
According to West's statement to the HCSO, "He (Hastings) said he would be frowned upon for dating a 25-year-old and it would affect his mayoral race. He also told me if I told anything about him, he would make sure I would be pulled over every time I entered Hillsboro. I told him if he didn't stop threatening me, I would go to the sheriff's office. He said 'Go ahead. I went to Sheriff Ron Ward's Super Bowl party and will get his safety director appointed – you will have no case.'"
When asked about Hastings' alleged comments, Ward told The Highland County Press this week: "I don't give preferential treatment to anybody. That's what I would say about that.
"As far as the safety/service director stuff, I have a job," Ward said. "There are rumors floating out there, but I have a term to finish and an election to win next year. I'm not going to be his (Hastings') safety/service director. I have a job I haven't retired from yet."
Regarding West's allegations that she would "have no case," Ward said that he is an acquaintance of Hastings, and that has no bearing on how his office functions.
"I'm sure a lot of people have said that over the years, and what do you say to that?" Ward said. "No one will receive preferential treatment from this office, or anyone in this office. I know John Levo (the Independent candidate for mayor), too. He worked with my wife for many years. I try to live by my reputation and try to treat everyone the same. I can't help that she says he thinks he's going to get preferential treatment. He, or anyone else, cannot expect preferential treatment from this office on any matter," Ward said.
Officer Cooper explained to Hastings and West that both parties needed to cease contact with one another to prevent any further problems. The officer said if any further problems arise, the sheriff's office would pursue criminal charges.
"This was along the lines of an 'ex-boyfriend,' ex-girlfriend' scenario," Ward said. "This was not a case of any physical threats."
"There were also allegations of two Facebook pages that were attributed to him (Hastings). But we did not initiate an investigation into that," Ward said.
When asked why the HCSO did not investigate that allegation, Ward said it was because no criminal charges were filed.
"Both parties were talked to and no charges were filed."
and RORY RYAN
Highland County resident Andrea West has filed a complaint with the Highland County Sheriff's Office against Hillsboro Republican candidate for mayor Drew Hastings.
West, 25, alleges in an April 16 report with the Highland County Sheriff's Office that she had received a "disturbing message on her Facebook page from her ex-boyfriend, Drew Hastings."
In a report to HCSO Officer Scott Cooper, West said that she and Hastings, 57, "were, at one time, seeing one another, but concluded that the relationship had ended."
West then said she had been accused by Hastings of "telling people they used to date, which upset Hastings."
West presented two pieces of paper to the HCSO which she said were from her Facebook page and, she said, were sent by Hastings.
In his report, Cooper said he came to the conclusion that West's complaint was "more civil slander than anything." West was advised to explain to Hastings she did not wish to "further any type of contact with him, and from that point on if the situation was not resolved, then criminal charges could be applied."
According to the HCSO report, Officer Cooper listened as West made a telephone call to Hastings' voicemail and left a message stating she no longer wanted any communications from Hastings.
Hastings contacted the HCSO and said the "situation between himself and Andrea was considered to be that of a stalking issue. (Hastings) stated that (West) repeatedly calls him even after the two had separated and that all he wanted was to be left alone."
Hastings told The Highland County Press Monday, May 23 that the report was nothing but allegations.
"Those were kind of wild allegations," Hastings said. "They were allegations. I would say anything regarding that matter can be directed to my attorney, J.D. Wagoner."
Wagoner told The Highland County Press, "I have not gone over these allegations with my client, and until I do I have no official statement."
According to the HCSO report, "Drew did admit to sending the Facebook pages to Andrea and further stated, that looking back, it was not a good decision made on his behalf."
In an alleged Jan. 13 Facebook posting that West presented to the HCSO, Hastings is quoted as saying: "I am suddenly aware that my life is not working. I have a drug problem. I have an escape problem."
Hastings took out petitions as a candidate for mayor of Hillsboro on Jan. 20.
In an alleged April 16 Facebook posting that West presented to the HCSO, Hastings is quoted as saying: "You can decide to focus your energy on something else or you can be dragged into something very ugly and awkward. I promise I will do this to you if you do anything else. I will say it once more, if you contact any more of my people, I will contact the (Southern Ohio) Pregnancy Center (where West is associated) and it will not look good. …Don't cross me again."
According to that post, West quoted Hastings as saying, "Based on your previous methods, I believe you are behind the sign issue. You are smart enough to steal some of my signs, put them in your parents (sic) yard, then blame them on my people."
According to West's written statement she said, "Drew's threatening me to contact them scares me as well as breaks my heart. Because I do not want to be involved with him – he is retaliating."
The 57-year-old Hastings defeated Republican opponents Rod Daniels and Terry Mikkelsen Tuesday, May 3 during the primary election in the race for Hillsboro mayor, receiving unofficially 295 votes. Hastings will face Independent candidate John Levo in the November general election.
According to West's statement to the HCSO, "He (Hastings) said he would be frowned upon for dating a 25-year-old and it would affect his mayoral race. He also told me if I told anything about him, he would make sure I would be pulled over every time I entered Hillsboro. I told him if he didn't stop threatening me, I would go to the sheriff's office. He said 'Go ahead. I went to Sheriff Ron Ward's Super Bowl party and will get his safety director appointed – you will have no case.'"
When asked about Hastings' alleged comments, Ward told The Highland County Press this week: "I don't give preferential treatment to anybody. That's what I would say about that.
"As far as the safety/service director stuff, I have a job," Ward said. "There are rumors floating out there, but I have a term to finish and an election to win next year. I'm not going to be his (Hastings') safety/service director. I have a job I haven't retired from yet."
Regarding West's allegations that she would "have no case," Ward said that he is an acquaintance of Hastings, and that has no bearing on how his office functions.
"I'm sure a lot of people have said that over the years, and what do you say to that?" Ward said. "No one will receive preferential treatment from this office, or anyone in this office. I know John Levo (the Independent candidate for mayor), too. He worked with my wife for many years. I try to live by my reputation and try to treat everyone the same. I can't help that she says he thinks he's going to get preferential treatment. He, or anyone else, cannot expect preferential treatment from this office on any matter," Ward said.
Officer Cooper explained to Hastings and West that both parties needed to cease contact with one another to prevent any further problems. The officer said if any further problems arise, the sheriff's office would pursue criminal charges.
"This was along the lines of an 'ex-boyfriend,' ex-girlfriend' scenario," Ward said. "This was not a case of any physical threats."
"There were also allegations of two Facebook pages that were attributed to him (Hastings). But we did not initiate an investigation into that," Ward said.
When asked why the HCSO did not investigate that allegation, Ward said it was because no criminal charges were filed.
"Both parties were talked to and no charges were filed."