Ellis County Press publisher threatened over Wilmer ETJ story
NOTE: Some of the following language has been edited due to vulgarity.
A series of emails were recently sent to the Ellis County Press’s publisher, likely in response to an article last week about ETJ’s in the City of Wilmer.
Heran Patel, CEO/Owner of Shobhana Patel LLC and Spat Capital, apparently owns RV Parks around the Dallas area, and he wanted to open one in the City of Wilmer as well.
Patel originally contacted the Ellis County Press to look into an annexing situation in Wilmer relating to his desired location for an RV Park to be located there.
He had an interest in developing the park on land he bought from the heir of an ex-city councilmember.
Patel apparently thought the land was in the county and not the city, but evidently his team of professionals did not do their due diligence since the land is actually in the city limits of Wilmer, and there has been an ordinance for some time that there would be no more RV Parks allowed within the city limits.
On Thursday, Jan. 19 at 10:05 a.m., Charles Hatfield, Publisher of the Ellis County Press, replied to Patel’s email:
“Case in point, Wilmer expanded their city limits into their ETJ. They did not annex. State law prohibits cities from annexation.”
At 10:07 a.m., Patel responded (incorrect spelling and punctuation have been left in all email correspondence so as not to alter the original):
“If it meets all the guidelines for which 41.003 states in the Local Government Code. There are notification requirements for this. You may want to educate yourself sir because youre on the wrong side of history.”
The Ellis County Press did its due diligence to cover the story, and published it last week (March 23) in the newspaper: https://www.elliscountypress.com/news/wilmer-etj-controversy-update
After the publication of the story, additional emails came in that day which were both threatening and offensive to the paper and its staff.
In order to be as fully transparent as possible, and to allow all readers the luxury of understanding both sides of the story, we are printing Patel’s emails as received.
On Thursday, March 23 at 6:49 a.m., Patel wrote:
“It seems as if you continue to keep writing false and incorrect information in the paper that you do a poor job managing. My advice to you is get out of the business and go do something better with your life you piece of s*#t.
“It doesn’t take long to see that you are also bribed and ignorant to what the real issue at hand is. It’s absolutely disrespectful and disgusting that you would put that article on the front page knowing that you are lying. Charles Hatfield will go down as the clown of Ellis County Press.
“The difference between you and I is that I’ve got enough money to shut most of you old fu*ks down. If you continue with these kinds of false article you may also see your self in a few million dollar lawsuit like I have sued Wilmer for.
“I’ll take your paper, your house and everything with it by the time I’m done with your pathetic ass. Just remember I’m here for good and you will be admonished for your actions.”
Later on the same day at 7:09 a.m., Patel wrote another email citing in the subject line on the email string: Subject: Re: NBC 5-FOX 4 NEWS https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/property-owners-worried-about-land-ann...
“I know it makes you upset that you are being spoken to like this but there is one thing you must realize. There’s new people coming on into Ellis County and your antics will cease whether you like it or not. You will not be allowed to spew this inaccurate information to people like you are doing now. I will put you on every Major News Media here in DFW and expose you for your corrupt reporting..
“You need to reflect on your actions as your parents would be embarrassed to call you their son. What a disgrace to whatever Hatfield represents.
“F*&K YOU”
Hatfield’s simple response:
“Knock yourself out.”
At 12:40 p.m., Patel replied:
“Times are changing Hatfield. Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out. Your Ellis county legacy doesn’t amount to much anyways as your contributions by way of the press is nothing more than irrelevant and unintelligible information.
“People speak about you as a fu**ing idiot with a pen.
“Let it be known the more educated liberals are coming into town with the brains and money to shut you up.
“You’re just the sh*t on the bottom of peoples shoe. Enjoy.”
On Monday, March 27 at 12:41 p.m., Hatfield replied:
“I forgive you.”
Then at 2:03 p.m. the same day, Patel replied:
“You’re my bitch charles D hatfield jr.”
Hatfield is very familiar with city zoning regulations, having served on Ferris’ Planning and Zoning Commission for more than 25 years.
Editor’s note to reader: Sometimes misunderstandings can be brought before a city council for clarification and sometimes before buying property due diligence is properly done along with correct legal measures to clear up miscommunication.
It is unclear why this gentleman is attacking a newspaper for printing the truth regarding a situation when we were asked to look into the matter.
We did look into the matter, therefore reporting our findings, which must not have been the narrative Spat Capital and Patel was promoting regarding his dealings related to a City of Wilmer ordinance.
There will be a followup story in next week’s Ellis County Press.