EDITORS NOTE: On April 8, TheBAYNET.com ran a story about a noise dispute turning into arrests for assault. That story was updated that evening when TBN received a call from Celia Runnels stating that all charges against her and son Rodney Runnels, Jr. had been dropped and that they had talked with St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs about their treatment and arrest on April 5. TBN had an exclusive interview with Celia Runnels, Rodney Runnels, Sr., Rodney Runnels, Jr. and Runnels, Jr.’s alleged assault victim. What follows is the Runnels’ first-hand account of what transpired on April 4 and early morning April 5.

It was Saturday, April 4 and the Runnels were throwing a going away party for their son, Rodney Runnels, Jr. who was set to report to Great Lakes Naval training facility near Chicago on Monday, April 13 for his induction and basic training.

The lower floor of the Runnels’ townhome is small. The police report said there were over 100 people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The party was held in the downstairs area of the Runnels’ townhome in Cedar Cove. “We invited 30 to 35 people,” said Celia Runnels. “It was supposed to be a small party to say good bye to our son.”

“There was a birthday party a few houses down that was outside on that same night,” said Rodney Runnels, Sr. “You could hear the noise from that party for blocks. There were people drinking and laughing and loud music and it was packed with people,” said Runnels, Sr. Apparently, since the neighbors were friends with the Runnels, people were walking back and forth between the two events throughout the evening.

The Runnels’ party was going smoothly until about midnight when a woman showed up and demanded to see another female. According to Runnels, Sr. there had been some conflict between the woman and his son in the past and when Runnels, Jr. told his parents of the woman’s presence, they told him that, no, she was not welcome in the home.

When Runnels, Jr. went down stairs to inform the woman that she would have to leave, someone, not invited to the party assaulted Runnels, Jr. causing his nose to bleed profusely and ran out the back door and away from the scene.

At that moment, a bit past midnight on April 5, five sheriff’s units arrived on the scene. What followed was pure chaos.

After informing his parents of the assault, a blood soaked Runnels, Jr. gave chase to the attacker across the grassy area behind the Runnels’ townhome. The pursuit lead Runnels, Jr. directly past the car of the woman, he was subsequently accused of assaulting.