A temporary harassment restraining order request against an Ellsworth public official was denied last week by Pierce County Court Commissioner Phillip A. Helgeson.

According to Pierce County Civil Court documents, Ellsworth resident Sean A. Hall, 55, applied for a temporary harassment restraining order July 13 against Ellsworth Village Board member Tony Hines, 74, but it was denied. An injunction hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. July 30. The injunction notice was served to Hines on July 17. Hall requested the court schedule an injunction hearing even if the TRO was denied.

A "temporary restraining order," or TRO, refers to a restraining order that only lasts a short period of time, generally less than two weeks, according to wicourts.gov A TRO prohibits another individual from behaving in a certain way.

An injunction refers to a restraining order that lasts for a longer period of time than the TRO. Injunctions are usually ordered to last two to four years, wicourts.gov says, but can last up to 10 years depending on the facts of the case.

Hall was arrested for disorderly conduct July 2 after a confrontation between the two men at Cenex in Ellsworth which resulted in Hines falling to the ground and striking his head; at the hospital Hines was diagnosed with a concussion. Hall claims Hines, 74, shoulder-checked him and jabbed him in the chest, and that he pushed Hines in “self-defense.” Hines told police the two exchanged words with Hines speaking first before Hall pushed him to the ground. Hines said he never touched Hall.

Pierce County District Attorney’s Office has yet to file any criminal charges in the case.

In the police report, written by Officer Darrin Foss, Hines is quoted as telling police, “I said to him, when you come to a village board meeting you don’t come and start swearing and this shit.”

Hall has a history of being vocal at Ellsworth Village Board meetings during public comment time and posting opinions on the Ellsworth Community Facebook page, calling out Ellsworth Village Board members and the Chamber of Commerce for things such as the East End Park Master Plan, demolition of the old junior high, Cheese Curd Festival’s location, potholes near Circle K and more.

In the petition for a TRO, Hall wrote, “I am fearful of Tony and his connections throughout the community based on his own words that he came after me over an issue he personally had that I was unaware of from a board meeting that took place over 3 months ago.”

Hall was adamant in the petition that he hasn’t been to a board meeting in person in three months. He underlined portions of the police report where Hines admitted to speaking to him first, making him believe “the attack was pre-meditated” and that Hines held a “personal grudge or vendetta.”

“It scares me that I have not attended a board meeting in 3 months in person and on the contrary of what people are saying, he initiated contact with me verbally and physically and I defended myself.”

The petition accuses Hines of using his influence as a board member and well-known community member to instigate and cause fear in Hall and his family. Hall further stated that Hines’ friends and family have used social media to “further attack me and prayers for himself.”

“And again I knew nothing of any problem or issue had occurred until Tony verbally harassed me and physically assaulted me when he made contact with me July 2^nd,” Hall said in the petition.