Kansas prosecutor to resign, calls sheriff a bully after he wanted her out of office

A Kansas prosecutor is planning to resign, calling the sheriff a bully after he told her she should be removed from office.

Barton County Attorney Amy Schartz Mellor said in a news release Tuesday that she plans to resign from her position next month. The release cites a letter from Sheriff Brian Bellendir that states his intention to try to have Mellor removed from office.

“The sheriff’s letter, actions and public commentary make it clear that he is not interested in cooperation and instead would prefer to bully me and my office,” Mellor said.

The resignation comes after Bellendir was acquitted of mistreating a prisoner after he allegedly slapped a handcuffed man.

investigated last year by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation

He was found not guilty earlier this month by a jury that had watched body camera footage. “The sheriff slapped the suspect in a propane theft on the back of the head as someone would do to a child,” the Associated Press reported the defense attorney told jurors. The sheriff said the trial followed a “politically motivated witch hunt” by the county attorney’s office.

“It has become clear a majority of the citizens of Barton County are demanding change in your office,” Bellendir’s letter said.

Mellor said the bullying and lack of cooperation began after a report on Bellendir’s actions during an arrest was filed with Great Bend police. Mellor asked the KBI to investigate, and recused her own office from the case.

“I had hoped that once the criminal matter was concluded, healing could begin and all parties could act like adults and perform our duties,” Mellor said. “Based on Sheriff Bellendir’s continued actions and his letter, this is clearly not possible.”

She also said that law enforcement officers should be held to a higher standard and that county commissioners should not support the sheriff’s actions. Mellor is a commission member of the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.

Bellendir on Tuesday told the Great Bend Tribune that he was not being a bully and government work sometimes requires confrontation. He said after Mellor’s planned resignation that he no longer intends to address county commissioners next week.

This story was originally published November 20, 2018 at 10:10 PM.