Updated May 6, 5:00 p.m. Ramona “Denise” Bell, 52, of Forney was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Kaufman County for theft of property by check valued between $20 and $500. Bell is the owner and managing editor of the Forney Post and is also a very outspoken supporter of the challengers in the upcoming Forney City Council elections.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 4, several individuals were distributing campaign fliers in the neighborhood northwest of Pinson Road when they were confronted by Bell, according to the complainant. Reportedly, Bell began photographing the complainant and her young daughter and, when asked to stop, the complainant said Bell began verbally harassing them with profanity laced comments.
The complainant and her daughter then left the scene of the altercation but were followed by Bell to their home in the Mustang Creek subdivision, the neighborhood on the southeastern side of Pinson Road. According to the complainant, Bell continued to drive back and forth in front of her home.
An officer with the Forney Police Department was called to the complainant's home to take an official report of the incident. Upon investigating, the officer became aware of the outstanding warrant and an arrest was made on the warrant. According to Kaufman County records, the offense is a Class B Misdemeanor. According to the Forney Police Department, Bell was charged with Disorderly Conduct, a Class C Misdemeanor, as a result of the incident.
The theft by check case against Bell was initially filed on September 21, 2009, with Kaufman County. According to Kaufman County records, the offense date occurred on January 21, 2009 and the arrest warrant has been active since September 17, 2009. The warrant was returned to Kaufman County on September 24, 2009, unserved and again issued on September 28, 2009.
Bell was held at the Forney City Jail overnight. On the morning of May 5, Bell was transported to the Kaufman County Jail where she was later released on a $750 personal recognizance bond.
While at the Forney Justice Center awaiting comment from the department's public information officer, inForney.com was subject to the same type of harassment from the family of Bell and staff writer Christy Brau. Information from the Forney Police Department is expected to be released soon.
Requests for comments from persons at Bell's residence immediately following the arrest have been unanswered.