Files charges against alleged victim

By KATIE FITZPATRICK

Staff writerAn Annapolis man has been charged under three separate cases for allegedly pushing through a crowd of people getting ready to participate in the cancer survivors’ walk at the Calvert County Relay For Life in June.

At 6:51 p.m. June 15, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Hallowing Point Park for a report of a disorderly person. Deputies said Roy A. Reppenhagen, 49, allegedly tried to push his way through a crowd of people participating in the cancer survivors’ walk and became involved in a minor physical altercation with Bart O. Couey and Dorainne Brown, both of California.

Reppenhagen was told several times by deputies to leave the park, which he did not do. He was arrested and charged that same day with disorderly conduct and failure to obey a lawful order.

On June 25, Couey filed second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property more than $500 charges and Brown filed a second-degree assault charge against Reppenhagen in district court.

In their separate complaints, both Couey and Brown allege they were lining up to walk the first lap for the cancer survivors’ walk when they heard someone scream, “What don’t you understand about excuse me? It means to get the [expletive] out of my way.”

Couey said the man was pushing his way through cancer survivors and as he approached Couey, he said, “Do you want a piece of me?” Brown said Couey told the man, later identified as Reppenhagen, to watch his mouth because there were children around, when Reppenhagen then “went after Bart.”

After a brief verbal argument, Couey said Reppenhagen pushed him and Couey told him to “sit your fat [expletive] down.” Reppenhagen then allegedly grabbed Couey’s necklace and pulled it off of his neck. Brown said she tried to “stop this” when Reppenhagen pushed her and grabbed her arm, causing several scratches. Reppenhagen hit Couey in the jaw and broke a finger on Couey’s left hand. Couey said he hit Reppenhagen with his right fist and knocked him to the ground when police came over and took Reppenhagen away.

Couey and Brown walked six laps before going to Calvert Memorial Hospital, where Couey was told his left finger was broken in two places and a tendon had also been broken. Couey had surgery on his finger on June 21, according to the statement of charges.

On July 3, Reppenhagen filed a second-degree assault charge against Couey.

In the statement of charges, Reppenhagen said he and his wife were walking through a crowd of people when Couey approached him about the use of foul language. Reppenhagen said he told Couey it was “not his business” about what language he was using when Couey told him to “shut my fat mouth.”

Reppenhagen said he told Couey “that was not necessary” when Couey then allegedly threw his drink at Reppenhagen and started trying to punch him. Reppenhagen said he “held my hands up to block his wild punches” when he was punched in the lip.

kfitzpatrick@somdnews.com