A female Sykesville Police Department officer is recovering from injuries after she was kicked by a man at a terrorist-themed house party late Sunday night, police said.

Officer Elizabeth Duvall responded to a disorderly disturbance call at 11:45 p.m. Saturday on Jennifer Way where about 30 people were drinking alcohol and carrying on, said Police Chief John Williams Jr.

She was transported to Carroll Hospital Center and was released. She is out for two weeks with a sprained wrist, Williams said.

Police arrested Joseph Allen Kohlhepp, 25, 7071 Jennifer Way, Sykesville, and charged him with second-degree assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and wearing a fake explosive device, Williams said.

“He decided to fight and assault the police,” Williams said.

Sykesville officer Charles Robinson saw Duvall was down holding her stomach and she told him that Kohlhepp kicked in her in the stomach and on her hand, Williams said.

When officers saw Kohlhepp, he had three road flares taped to his chest with wires leading to his pants connected to a remote control, appearing to be a suicide bomber, to go with the theme of the “dress like a terrorist” party, Williams said. State fire marshals responded to the scene to see whether the display was a real or fake explosive, he added.

“Early on, before it got very confrontational, he was ordered to remove that after it was determined and presumed to be fake,” Williams said.

At 12:38 a.m. Sunday, seven officers from Maryland State Police, Carroll County Sheriff's Office and a Department of Natural Resources officer responded to the scene after a fight broke out in the street involving Kohlhepp, according to a police report.

Robinson and a trooper had examined Kohlhepp on the curb then returned to the house to continue investigating, according to the report.

When Robinson returned outside, he saw Duvall down, holding her stomach, according to the report.

After Kohlhepp removed the device, he started to “thrash about,” Williams said, then resisted arrest.

Kohlhepp fought several officers, including some from the Maryland State Police and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office who responded to help break up the party, Williams said.

“We deployed the Taser, and it appeared to have no effect on him,” he said.

Kohlhepp had apparently consumed several drinks with whiskey and Red Bull that evening, Williams said, which likely played a factor in Kohlhepp’s aggressiveness.

Kohlhepp was transported to Carroll Hospital Center, where his blood-alcohol content was found to be .34 -- more than four times the .08 legal limit.

“He was extremely susceptible to death,” Williams said.

Police did not make other arrests and citations at the party, he said. No underage drinking took place, he added.

“Once the party was broken up, the other individuals, as long as they were of legal drinking age and not driving, were sent on their way,” he said.

This story has been updated.

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user comments (1)

user radangel says...

OK, so I can't be the only one who asks this, but what the heck are people thinking who host or attend such a party? Putting the the detestable theme of the party aside, shouldn't the police have considered locking up all of these people just for being idiots? People have died with far less than a .34 blood-alcohol content, but alas it looks like this moron was actually saved by the police. Hopefully, the police have decided to keep regular tabs on this house for the foreseeable future, as I can't help but think anyone who has the bad taste to host or attend a "terrorist" themed party has certainly earned the right to be watched. I expect just about no one finds this behavior even remotely funny, but especially not in our community. My best wishes go out to the officer Duvall for a speedy recovery from her injuries in trying to subdue this jerk.

Posted 9:25 AM, 09.11.09

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