Authorities received a phone call early this morning about a suspicious person they believed was breaking into cars at the East Innes Street McDonald’s restaurant.
Officers arrived at the restaurant at 12 a.m. to find a man who was walking the parking lot. The man, later identified as Romero Lark, began walking away as officers approached him. Lark went into the restaurant, which is a 24-hour establishment. An officer began checking Lark for weapons. The officer asked Lark to place his hands on the patrol car, but he kept removing them.
The Salisbury Police charged Romero Lark, 54, of the 900 block of East Lafayette Street, Salisbury, with one count misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay and officer; misdemeanor assault on a government official and two counts assault on a law enforcement officer.
Lark punched Officer M.L. Dishman in the eye as the officer tried to handcuff him. Another officer, B.D. Kimball, arrived and used a Taser on Lark. He was not affected by the Taser, a report said.
Lark was placed on the ground while officers continued to struggle with him. A report said Lark bit another officer, B.W. Lomax on the hard, drawing blood. Another officer, J.S. Lakey, was able to place leg shackles and handcuffs on Lark.
In 1984, Lark was convicted of rape, spending five years in prison. He has also been convicted of drug possession and possessing a counterfeit controlled substance. Lark remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.