Student arrested for assault

Three people were threatened at knifepoint Tuesday near the automated teller machines next to Davis Library, UNC police said.

Ronny Renee Forney, 42, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon at about 11:07 a.m. Tuesday on Raleigh Street, according to Department of Public Safety reports.

Forney is studying biology at the University through the Friday Center.

Police responded to reports of a person with a knife causing a disturbance, reports state. Officers said they saw Forney holding a knife in her hand and pointing it at the group when they arrived.

Police issued Forney with a trespass warning and arrested her for assault with a deadly weapon, reports state. She was taken to the Department of Public Safety office and was then transported to Hillsborough, where she was brought before a magistrate.

She was released from custody Tuesday afternoon, said University police Sgt. James Arwood.

Martin Richenhagen, 57, from Duluth, Ga., was one of the people threatened, UNC police said.

Two relatives of Richenhagen were also present at the scene. Brigitte Richenhagen, 45, is also from Duluth. Mechthild Richenhagen, 26, is a senior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Police do not know what provoked the incident, but Martin Richenhagen said it started when he asked Forney for change for a parking meter at the ATMs on Raleigh Street.

Richenhagen said Forney became aggressive and called him “old” and “ugly.” Richenhagen said when he tried to calm Forney down, she pulled out a knife. He described the knife as similar to a Swiss Army knife.

Nate Crosby, a courier for University Libraries and a witness at the scene, said he saw Richenhagen push Forney to the ground. Crosby said Forney got up and pulled out a knife after being pushed.

“She would have been OK if she didn’t pull out the knife,” Crosby said.

Randy Young, DPS spokesman, said the incident is under investigation.

Martin Richenhagen is the chief executive officer of AGCO Corporation, a Fortune 500 company that manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment and related parts. He gave a lecture Monday about German and American business practices.



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