89-Year-Old WW2 Vet Beaten and Robbed by Blacks

ABC2 News
January 2, 2014

An 89-year-old World War II veteran was beaten and robbed early Monday morning in Glen Burnie.

Anne Arundel County police said the man was walking home from McDonald’s a little past 6 a.m. when three men, believed to be teenagers, attacked him and knocked him to the ground in the area of Cloverleaf and Four Leaf Clover Drive.

“My heart was racing. All I could think was, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,'” said Janice Copes, the victim’s daughter.

Copes says her father, 89-year-old Ralph Bollinger, gets just about everywhere by walking. He makes the trek to McDonald’s every morning for breakfast, then heads back home on foot. But on his way home Monday morning, three robbers beat him up and took $100 from his wallet. Family members say Bollinger was just around the corner from his home when it happened.

“It’s bad enough that it happens to anybody. But to beat up an old man and take his money? And just let him lay there? It’s just horrible. It’s just awful,” Copes said.

Copes says her father walked into the house saying only, ‘I think I’ve been mugged.’ She immediately dialed 911.

“It’s scary. My heart, it was just pounding, my blood pressure was probably worse than his. I knew I couldn’t fall apart because there was just so much that had to be done. I’m falling apart now,” said Copes.

Copes describes her father as doing ‘as good as expected.’ She says he’ll stay overnight in the hospital on Monday, but family members hope he’ll be released on Tuesday.

Police said initial information indicates the people in question are three males in their teens, that wore dark, hooded sweatshirts and dark pants.

Anyone with information is asked to call police  at 410-222-6145.