Arizona authorities recently picked up a man wanted in Rowan County for stabbing a Cleveland man in July. Rowan investigators spoke with the victim shortly after the incident and had been looking for the suspect since that time.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Fernando Alba Salazar, 26, of the 3400 block of Old Mocksville Road, Salisbury, with felony assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Salazar remains in the Rowan County jail under a $150,000 secured bond.
Officials said an officer was flagged down on U.S. 70 the night of the July 13 incident. The victim, Melvin Javier Perez, 27, of the 1000 block of Raven Court, Cleveland, was lying in the back seat of the vehicle. Officers spoke with Perez, who told them he was stabbed by Salazar. Perez said he did not know why, but admitted the two had been drinking.
Perez had a cut on the side of his head, a cut near his knee, a cut to his left arm near his elbow and was stabbed in the stomach.
Authorities were not immediately able to locate Salazar, but received information from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona on Sept. 21 saying he was in their custody.
Salazar was sent back to Rowan County on Tuesday and charged. Salazar did not provide a motive.