Lovers’ Feud Becomes Legal Tangle for Couple

Call it a twisted case of love and war.

In one corner is Westside restaurateur Hans Rockenwagner. In the other is Cyndy Truhan, former wife of onetime Dodgers star Steve Garvey.

For nearly two years, the handsome blond couple dated. Now they are fighting each other in court over who allegedly stalked whom. Truhan, 46, is seeking a restraining order against Rockenwagner, calling him a “bully” who threatened and harassed her, and at one point “manhandled” her up a flight of stairs.

Rockenwagner, 34, calls Truhan’s allegations “lies and fabrications,” and he has obtained a restraining order. Rockenwagner claims that Truhan has broken into his home, repeatedly shown up at his Santa Monica restaurant, stolen his address book and called him 35 times in one night.

Now months of feuding have drawn authorities into the fray--and created more problems for Truhan.

The Santa Monica city attorney’s office Wednesday filed misdemeanor charges against Truhan for allegedly making false police reports.

Truhan had called police to her Santa Monica home numerous times in recent months when she claimed she was being harassed by an unknown assailant who later was identified in court documents as Rockenwagner.

But according to a Santa Monica Police Department report, Truhan admitted to officers during a recent interview that she lied about being stalked and in fact had targeted Rockenwagner.

“I wanted revenge,” the report quoted her as telling police in reference to the couple’s breakup last year. “I shouldn’t have done all this but I wanted to get back at him.”

Truhan could not be reached for comment. Her publicist, Linda Grey, said Truhan filed the request for a restraining order because she genuinely fears Rockenwagner.

Grey attributed Truhan’s behavior to stress and severe depression she was suffering after her breakup with Rockenwagner last year.

“She doesn’t remember calling the police, filing the police reports, or making calls [to Rockenwagner],” Grey said. “Let’s face it, it is embarrassing, but I spoke to her psychiatrist and he said it is not rare.”

Said Rockenwagner: “I wanted to move on since the breakup, but she wouldn’t allow it.”

Truhan’s activities also apparently had an effect on her former husband, Steve, and his current wife, Candace, who came into the spotlight momentarily last year when she testified for the prosecution in O.J. Simpson’s murder trial. She was a close friend of Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.

Candace Garvey filed for legal separation Thursday, and said later in an interview that her fear of Truhan was a primary reason for her split with her husband.

Candace Garvey said Truhan harassed her and her husband. And Garvey said she feared that Truhan would become violent at some point.

“I told the police, I’m not going to be Nicole Simpson,” she said Thursday.

Truhan’s publicist said Truhan had not harassed the Garveys but had called Steve Garvey because she said he owed her money for their daughter’s college education.