A Salisbury homeowner is baffled as to why someone would poison more than 100 Koi fish at his Roseman Road home.

Colin Patterson told authorities he first noticed the fish were dying Nov. 27, and since that time more than 100 have died.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the vandalism, which resulted in $3,500 worth of damage.

Patterson told officials he found a container of antifreeze in the bottom of the pond where the fish were kept.

He said he noticed red or “burn marks” on the fish.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

Littering, DWI charges ruin a beautiful day

A Salisbury man’s “beautiful day” was ruined when a deputy spotted him tossing beer cans out his window, a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office report said.

Earl Jordan Ward, 68, of Hackett Street, was charged with driving while impaired, littering and possession of an open container.

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Rowan Sheriff’s Deputy R.A. Amerson saw a gray Ford Ranger pickup parked on the Interstate 85 shoulder near exit 81, facing oncoming traffic.

When the driver saw the deputy, he tossed something out the window and into a nearby storm drain, Amerson said in a department report.

When Amerson approached the car, the driver, later identified as Ward, told the deputy he was, “watching traffic on this beautiful day.”

When the deputy looked in the storm drain, he found two Old Milwaukee beer cans. When he looked inside the truck, Amerson found two cases of Old Milwaukee, one with beers missing, and one open beer, the report said.

Ward had red, glassy eyes and appeared unsteady on his feet during a field sobriety test, Amerson reported. His blood alcohol content was 0.09 at the scene and a later test showed his blood alcohol content at 0.08.

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.

Thieves take cash, other items from unlocked cars in Salisbury neighborhood

The Salisbury Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding thieves who took items from unlocked cars throughout a local neighborhood.

Residents in the Brentwood Acres neighborhood and in homes along Newsome Road were robbed of various items from audio-visual equipment to $1,800 in cash. Thieves took cell phones, construction tools, a purse, a movie projector and loose change.

There were seven incidents that occurred late Sunday night with vehicles that were unlocked.

The homes were located at Oakmont Court, Morningside Lane, Newsome Road, Crane Creek Road, Park Avenue and two homes on Wesley Drive.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.