BOWIE, Md. — Bowie police are investigating a fight that broke out Tuesday outside one of the city’s polling places.
Outgoing at-large Councilmember Henri Gardner was injured in an altercation that involved the husband of an at-large candidate vying to fill Gardner’s seat.
The incident happened in the parking lot of the Bowie Gymnasium at 4100 Northview Drive around 3:15 p.m. as outgoing Councilmember Gardner exchanged words with Terry Rogers, husband of at-large council candidate Wanda Rogers.
Gardner was pushed to the ground as the men tussled, according to witnesses.
Police and an ambulance were called. Both men were questioned before Gardner was loaded into an ambulance suffering from an apparent leg injury.
No charges were immediately filed and no arrest was made but Bowie police officers were continuing to investigate, according to Police Chief Dwayne Preston, who was among the officers to respond to the incident.
Neither man would discuss what led to the conflict.
The incident came as voters were turning out for a non-partisan municipal election for city council and mayor.
Bowie is an independent city of 58,000 with a $68 million municipal budget, facing issues of development, public safety and aging infrastructure including schools and a mall in decline.
Gardner is not on the ballot. He told WUSA9 he is retiring from the council to bring in new ideas. He was at the polling place to support one of Wanda Rogers’ rivals to replace him, according to witnesses to the altercation.