DANVERS — Instead of sending off the bride and groom after a wedding reception Saturday night, an Amesbury couple ended up being led off in handcuffs, after a fight with another guest and then a tussle with officers, according to police.
Shawn J. Pappas, 44, and his wife, Lindsay Pappas, 33, were leaving the Danversport Yacht Club on Saturday night when Shawn allegedly got into a fight with another guest he accused of flirting with his wife, according to a Danvers police report.
Witnesses told police that the other guest, who has not been identified, pulled up to the couple in an orange Chevrolet Camaro and stopped right in front of them, and that Shawn Pappas then got into a fight with the driver.
By the time police arrived, they found Shawn, in a ripped dress shirt, yelling, as about 20 other guests watched.
Witnesses told police that he even took a few swings at a security guard, as the groom tried to get him to calm down.
When police arrived, Shawn turned his ire on them, demanding that they arrest the man in the orange Camaro. Police have no idea who that person is, they said in a report.
Police initially asked if there was anyone available to drive the couple home to Amesbury, but found no volunteers. They also rejected a suggestion by Lindsay Pappas that they be allowed to take a cab, because police were concerned about their level of intoxication.
At that point, police decided to take Shawn Pappas, who had continued "ranting and raving," into custody. He went down swinging, police say, yelling expletives and insults at the officers.
Then his wife jumped into the fray, ending up on top of them, police said.
Both were arrested on disorderly conduct charges. Shawn Pappas is facing a charge of resisting arrest, and Lindsay is facing a charge of interfering with police.
On the way back to the station, Shawn Pappas told the officer he'd gotten out of his handcuffs — prompting the patrolman to call for backup at the station. It turned out he was lying about the cuffs, but continued a barrage of insults and threats, police said.
Meanwhile, Lindsay Pappas complained that she'd gotten wood chips in her underpants, pulling up her dress to show everyone in the police station booking area, police said.
Then she claimed she had chest pains, police said, but when EMTs arrived, she told them she was fine.
Eventually, she was given a ride home by a co-worker at Beverly Hospital, where she is a nurse.
Shawn Pappas was released later from police custody.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges at their arraignments yesterday in Salem District Court. They were advised to hire a lawyer and are due back in court Sept. 2.
Courts reporter Julie Manganis may be reached at 978-338-2521 or jmanganis@salemnews.com.
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