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UPDATE: All Charges Dropped

LEXINGTON PARK - 4/8/2009

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UPDATE: TBN has spoken with Celia Runnels who indicated that all charges have been dropped against both parties as of 4 p.m. on April 8. Runnels will be interviewing with TBN on Friday and wish to explain in detail what actually transpired on April 4. 

On April 4, St. Mary’s County Sheriff Office Deputies responded to a noise complaint on Sunburst Drive in Lexington Park.  When deputies arrived they observed approximately 100 people outside and around a residence on Sunburst Drive.

With deputies watching, a large fight broke out in the rear of the residence. A woman was in her vehicle parked in the street when Rodney O’Neal Runnels, Jr. 20 of Lexington Park, smashed her driver’s window out of the vehicle. The victim exited the vehicle where she was then assaulted by Rodney Runnels, Jr.
 
Dfc. Moritz witnessed the assault and began to place Runnels, Jr. under arrest. Runnels, Jr. refused to place his hands behind his back or comply with the arrest. He was subsequently handcuff with the assistance of two more deputies. The arrest combined with Runnels, Jr. unruly behavior and profane language drew a large crowd which hindered deputies’ efforts to restore order. 
 
As Rodney Runnels, Jr. was being placed under arrest, Celia Runnels, 38 of Lexington Park approached the deputies. Celia Runnels was told by Deputy M. Green to step back, not to come any closer to the deputies and to return to her residence. Celia Runnels refused.
 
Deputy Green extended her arm out in front of her body to prevent her from approaching any further. Celia Runnels pushed Deputy Green’s arm and then walked back to her residence.  As she walked toward her residence she began to yell profanities.  Celia Runnels disorderly conduct attracted the attention of other neighbors.
 
Once Rodney Runnels, Jr. was secured, Deputy Green arrested Celia Runnels for second degree assault and disorderly conduct. Rodney O’Neal Runnels, Jr. was charged with second degree assault, destruction of property, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.  Celia Runnels was charged with second degree assault and disorderly conduct.

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Comment On This Story!

builder50 Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 6:25 AM
You'll be back...
Don't throw away the address Deputies - you'll be back. Dropping all charges and letting them go when the article says they did this in front of the Deputies just tells folks that they can do this and no one can touch them. You'll be back, it's just a matter of time.
Reply to This Comment
mrknowitall Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 7:32 AM
Reply to builder50: seriously
Exactly. I'd like to know why charges were dropped?
countyfools Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 8:56 AM
Reply to builder50: What a fool
You have no idea what went on. I was there when all this took place. As a friend. But you guys are "county" just like the police. Nothing going for yourselves. Get a life and until you know exactly what happen, then do your talking. Lot of haters out there, that is all it boils down to. To the Runnels family, Keep your head up. You do not have to prove anything to these county folks. Be blessed.
m13m13 Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 7:29 AM
Just Fun
All charges dropped! Guess they were just having fun when the window got smashed. You gotta love life in LP.
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mrknowitall Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 7:31 AM
dropped?
charges were dropped? Why exactly?
Reply to This Comment
mrniceguy Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 8:00 AM
Reply to mrknowitall: Kangaroo Court
Charges were dropped because someone probably knows someone who knows someone else in the court system down here. Welcome to "The County" where there is no such thing as a fair trial.
freefaller Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 8:48 AM
Already Established
By their actions or inactions over the last year or two, the States Attorneys office, our Judges and Court commissioners have
established that it is absolutely Okay to assault the patrol deputies in our county. This is well known among the deputies. They will take whatever steps are necessary in the field to protect themselves because they know for a fact that the "system" WILL NOT PROTECT THEM. This case is a small example of that but look at the case of the woman who pulled a gun on a deputy a few weeks ago. She was out of jail so fast it wasn't funny.
At the next election, we MUST get rid of Mr Fritz. He's just not getting it done!!
Reply to This Comment
mdarden Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 10:27 AM
ST MARY BAMA's
This message is to ALL those who responded negatively…Y'ALL BAMA A**ES DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HE** Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT. I was there before, during, and after the incident and the cops were totally wrong. The TWO people they should have been arresting were the two intruders who came into their home and turned a nice friendly party into he** within minutes. These St. Mary cops see a home full of young adults (and not 100 either) and automatically assume their doing wrong. And actually there were two parties going on that night, so how do they now which party they should have responded too. So before anyone else respond; Please get your facts straight first.
Reply to This Comment
phantomfire1 Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 10:40 AM
Reply to mdarden: ?
Rat afta yo learn some gramma; then and only then can you call us a BAMA, MAMA.
m13m13 Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 10:54 AM
Reply to mdarden: Reply to mdarden
No I was not there, but i know this for sure if you cooperate with officers who are trying to figure out what happened you are less likely to be arrested If you are in the right. Resisting arrest only gets you into the back of a cruiser. When police arrive on the scene they have no idea what to expect. Seeing someone break out a window, what are they supposed to do, lend the guy their baton so he doesn't get hurt destroying property? Mr. Runnels may be completely innocent fighting law enforcement officers is just plain DUMB!!!
LDecker85 Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 11:40 AM
Reply to mdarden: Reply to phantomfire1: ha ha
Nicely put phantom lol
mdarden Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 11:41 AM
Reply to mdarden: Reply to m13m13
Why do you think the charges were dropped? The cops were not even at the scene when the window was broken. I was standing right next to Mrs. Runnels and believe me when I say, she didn't touch the lady cop, and if she did, why did it take 20 minutes after the so called assault for another cop, who was a male, to arrest her. The cops falsified their report, plain and simple.
countyfools Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 11:32 AM
To Phantomfire
First of all, you need to know how to spell as well, with your dumb A**ss self. Now we know you are a true Bama.

To M13M13, you are right. He is innocent. As I said, I was there, and the police acted terrible, and never gave the family a chance to explain. The police are very good liars, they said he broke a window, where's the proof. This young man has no broken bones, no scars, nothing. I guess he just looked at the window and broke it. This just goes to show how ignorant people can be just by reading something and believing everything they read.

Bottom line, it is over and done with. Stop hating.
Reply to This Comment
im_me2 Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 11:35 AM
Google
I googled his name.. some stuff came back but not much.. Hes got a facebook page according to google.. he looks like an ASHY POS!!!!!!!!
Reply to This Comment
countyfools Not Logged In 4/9/2009 at 11:47 AM
Reply to im_me2: Im Me2
You just hating......cause you know he look good. Show your face so we can comment on it. I bet you money, you wouldn't do it. Oh, let me guess, yo momma and daddy probably related.......LMAO
im_me2 Not Logged In 4/11/2009 at 7:58 PM
Reply to im_me2: countyfools.......
You seem to be about as dumb as they come these days. I dont need to show my face. Im not on the KID shyt like you. "yo momma and daddy probably related".. You must have low self esteem. Its ok if you need a hug **HUG**
xoxoxo Not Logged In 4/10/2009 at 11:43 AM
i was there
Im so glad all the charges were dropped. I attended this party, and the cops actually came due to the noise from a party down the street..quickly saw the comotion at this house and ran over. Rodney was Hit first, the males ran and got into the car that was behind the house that apparently got the window busted out. All charges should be dropped for he was the one who was having the going away party and some univited guess had to ruin it by hitting him first.
Reply to This Comment
dwilliams52 Not Logged In 4/10/2009 at 12:23 PM
wrong..
I was also at the party and alot of your stories are wrong. Yes, rodney did get hit by someone that was not invited to the party and the cops mentioned everything but that. The fight is what caused all of the commotion. The car that had the window busted did not have the person that hit rodney in it. Everyones facts are mixed up and this whole article is ridiculous you people get to read what happened through the police which its not actually what happened. Thank god the charges were dropped because they should have never been arrested to begin with.
Reply to This Comment
giggles Not Logged In 4/27/2009 at 8:12 PM
A second chance
Well, think about it, there's alot more to this than meets the eye. If you meet with trash, hang with trash, trash follows. This young man may be trying to get away from the "boys" because he wants to make a life that is positive.

There is alot of that going on in the tri-county area and don't you just hate it when people are observant like that!

Well, young man, you better stay that way, positive and full of energy because people are always going to try to bring you down, if you let them, they will keep doing it.

Good luck to you!
Reply to This Comment
la_la_la06 Not Logged In 7/8/2009 at 9:35 AM
who cares if U were there!
the cops dropped all charges... Rodney is so lucky Jesus is merciful! Because there is no way in he** that should've been dropped! Rodney is known for problems and DRAMA! So that's bull that everything was dropped once again. If we went back and NOTHING was ever dropped on Rodney's record. We know darn well he wouldn't have been able to join the NAVY. I'm not just talking about this incident, but other cases that have been dropped because his momma had to intervene. TYPICAL MOMMA'S boy. Mommy always has to get him out of trouble. How about the night Rodney Ran from the cops and hid his parents car in a neighborhood. That must have been a week before this went down. He's a lucky kid, that deserved to not have had charges dropped! I blame that on the cops for being so blind and naive to believing this kid is good. ps. people who choke females deserve to be locked up! just talking out of experience. yes! Rodney choked me!
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