Derek Myers has obtained a restraining order against the mother of a Washington Court House police officer.
Myers, who is a television news reporter, most known for hosting his popular show “News Patrol” and owner of the parent company to the Guardian, received the protection order Wednesday against Pam Betts of Washington Court House. Betts is the outspoken mother of Washington Court House Police Sergeant Derek Pfeifer.
Myers claimed in the filing Wednesday that Betts has been stalking and harassing him since 2016, even going as far as showing up to his workplace and chasing him through town. In one instance, Myers ran into the Washington Court House Police Department and locked himself in the “panic room” of the lobby saying Betts was chasing him from the local post office; the room is a secured, fireproof room where someone can shut the door behind them, locking themselves inside and out of harm’s way from a violent predator.
According to the order, Betts is refrained from posting about Myers on social media, directly or indirectly, and cannot ask anyone else to do it, either. She also has to stay 500 feet away from him and from his employment and houses, even if he is not there. Further, the judge ordered that she must hand over all weapons, including guns.
Myers contended in court Wednesday that the stalking and harassment began after he petitioned the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas in 2013 for a protection order against Pfeifer, then a patrolman with the police department. Pfeifer was criminally investigated by the Ohio Attorney General’s office for allegedly taking an “advertisement” out on Facebook looking to hire someone to physically assault Myers, who was — at that time — the editor of a local news organization in Washington Court House. The AG’s office declined to prosecute, but Pfeifer went on to be suspended from the police department in February 2014 as a result of a slew of Facebook postings that included racist, homophobic, and xenophobic comments; he was placed on a “last chance” policy for 12 months and completed the probationary period a year later.
Betts — fueled by the suspension of her son — has taken her menacing to an extreme, Myers testified. He told the judge that the 61-year-old woman has posted on Facebook begging people to tell her his whereabouts so she can show up, and that she has interjected herself into his personal relationships and affairs to the point that he has confined himself to work and his houses. Myers also said that Betts has a coffee mug with his name on it and that she was seen sitting outside his house on Tuesday.
Myers testified that Betts’ stalking and menacing has impacted his mental health by causing him severe incapacitating mental anguish, and that Betts posts about him on social media “all hours of the day-and-night” obsessing over him.
“I’m confident she wakes up with my name on her mind and goes to sleep with my name on her mind,” Myers said. “Her mental state is deeply concerning. It is not healthy for anyone to be this obsessed with another individual; it’s not normal.”
Pfeifer is one of three off-duty officers who were involved in a fight on June 22 that has spiked local outrage.
