Grace Prep coach arrested at school, accused of failing to leave ex-girlfriend alone
.jpg "The Grace Prep head football coach remains on administrative leave following his arrest on a charge of criminal trespass. Cedar Police said the coach has failed to stay away from his ex-girlfriend.")
A Grace Prep head football coach remained on administrative leave Thursday after his arrest earlier this month at school on a charge of criminal trespass.
Mike Helmer, 46, was taken into custody last week at the Arlington school after an arrest warrant on the Class B misdemeanor was issued for him in connection with refusing to leave his ex-girlfriend alone.
After his arrest, Helmer was placed on unpaid administrative leave from his position as head varsity football coach.
"This is due to certain circumstances, outside of the scope of his duties and position at Grace Prep, that must be addressed about which Grace Prep had no prior knowledge," Grace Prep principal Marc Evans said in an email. "Grace Prep is engaged in researching the events that led to Coach Mike Helmer's being placed on unpaid administrative leave, and does not comment publicly on personnel matters."
Helmer could not be reached Thursday for comment.
An arrest warrant affidavit gave this account of the incident:
A Cedar Hill woman made a harassment report with Cedar Hill police on Oct. 16 concerning unwanted contact and telephone calls from her ex-boyfriend, Helmer. The woman ended a six-year relationship with Helmer on Oct. 4.
The woman told police Helmer made repeated phone calls and attempts to contact her.
On Oct. 18, she called police after Helmer entered her home through a garage window and walked up to her upstairs bedroom. Helmer was issued a criminal trespass warning.
On the morning of Nov. 3, the woman emailed a Cedar Hill detective that Helmer approached her and her kids at a donut shop. She told him to leave and the coach did. But minutes later, she drove back to her home to get something for her 12-year-old son and Helmer showed up there.
She told police she pulled into her driveway and was attempting to back out when Helmer drove up and blocked the driveway with his vehicle. He got out of his vehicle and told her that he had some football cards for her son.
The Cedar Hill woman asked him to move because she had to take her son to school and Helmer complied.
The warrant was issued after Helmer visited her home on Nov. 3, and he was arrested three days later.
Defensive coordinator Chad Pegues was named interim head coach last week. Grace Prep lost to Temple Christian on Nov. 10. The Lions travel to Lubbock Friday to play Lubbock Christian.
Domingo Ramirez Jr.; 817-390-7763, @mingoramirezjr
This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Grace Prep coach arrested at school, accused of failing to leave ex-girlfriend alone."