It was a ‘heated argument’ and not domestic violence, Coast councilman says after arrest
D’Iberville Councilman Robby Ellis on Thursday discussed his and his wife’s arrests on domestic violence simple assault charges.
Ellis said he and Chelse declined to press charges against one another, but police arrested them anyway.
Both were taken into custody Saturday after police responded to a call from Chelse Ellis to come to their home on Belle Vue Circle.
“We didn’t harm anyone,” Robby Ellis said. “We had a heated argument as most married couples do!
“Nobody was punched, kicked, or hurt,” he said. “My 1-year-old has head-butted me harder than my wife slapped me. The cops arresting us in the first place was a huge overreaction because we were cool, calm and collected before they even showed up and (we) refused any further action between us, but they moved forward with the arrests anyway, exercising an abundance of caution as to not show favoritism to me. “
Though the couple declined to press charges against one another, state law allows law enforcement officials to make an arrest in a domestic violence case if they feel there is evidence.
Chelse Ellis made the call to D’Iberville police to come to their home around 8 p.m.
Ellis said he and his wife had an argument like most couples do, and he took her cellphone.
His wife, he said, got angry and slapped him. He used his arms to keep her back, he said ,which caused “a little redness around her neck.”
He said he had a “little mark on my upper lip.”
Ellis said he got in his car and left with his wife’s phone. He said his wife borrowed a phone and called police because she was mad at him for taking her phone.
“Nobody had bruises and there was no blood,” he said.
When he returned home, Robby Ellis said he apologized to his wife, but by then it was too late.
“We don’t construe what happened as a domestic assault,” he said. “I just want people to know we are reconciled, we are together and we love each other. She is the best mother I could ever ask for.
“We are active in our church,” he said. “We are active in our community. We are just normal people. We are together and we are deeply in love with each other.”
The Sun Herald asked to talk with Chelse, and Robby Ellis said she did not want to speak. He said he read her the comments he made to the Sun Herald and she was OK with it.
The couple pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges Tuesday and a no-contact order initially entered to keep the two away from one another was lifted.
Municipal Judge David Sullivan lifted the no-contact order after a victim’s advocate interviewed the couple, a court order said.
After the hearing, Sullivan recused himself from presiding over the case. City Attorney and prosecutor W.F. Fred Hornsby III recused himself as prosecutor at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
A special judge and prosecutor have not yet been appointed.
The Sun Herald filed public records requests to obtain information in the case, after the city did not release their mugshots or the arresting officer’s report.
