EVERETT —
Charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault were waived to Bedford County court on Wednesday in a case involving an alcohol-induced fight between two men whose friendship began when they were 4 years old.
Randy Scott Foor, of Chalybeate Road, Bedford, was returned to the Bedford County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond following his appearance in Bedford County Central Court in Everett.
He was arrested on Friday, more than a month after his lifelong friend, Dennis Sprigg, 49, of Manns Choice died as the result of blunt force trauma to the head, according to court documents.
“No charges were dropped. They all move forward,” said Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins.
The state police report states that Foor, Sprigg and other friends and family members were attending a party at Foor’s Bedford Township home on Aug. 11 when the two began arguing over softball.
Witnesses said they got into numerous verbal arguments over the course of the evening and were drinking significant amounts of alcohol.
At one point when the two were outdoors, Foor forcefully pushed Sprigg, according to Dana Martini, the investigating trooper.
Sprigg fell backward and struck the back of his head on the pavement with what she termed significant impact.
Witnesses told police it immediately became apparent that Sprigg lost consciousness and he began bleeding from his right ear.
Emergency personnel told police Sprigg regained consciousness long enough to tell them he was pushed by Foor.
Those same witnesses who told police that both men were extremely intoxicated said they saw Foor apologizing to Sprigg.
The victim was flown by medical helicopter to Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, where he was treated for what was described as a skull fracture and traumatic brain injury.
Sprigg underwent multiple brain surgeries and extensive medical treatment, but never came out of a coma.
He died Sept. 28.
Following an autopsy, pathologist Dr. Manjunath Heggere told Martini that Sprigg had been “very forcefully pushed.”
Witnesses told police that Foor used both arms and pushed Sprigg’s shoulders straight back.
Foor’s attorney, Joel Peppetti of the Thomas Dickey law offices, termed Sprigg’s death a horrible, tragic accident and said that Foor never intended to hurt anyone.
Higgins said he had no doubt that the death was an accident, but that Foor still should be held responsible.
“We see it for what it is. If he had intended to kill someone we would have charged him with first-degree murder,” he said.
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