A man booked into the Rowan County Detention Center on Sunday night was beaten by two other inmates while in a holding cell, officials said.

Phillip Ray Grant, 27, had been arrested and placed inside a holding cell before being booked into the county jail. China Grove Police arrested Grant, charging him with probation violation, simple possession of a schedule III controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After being in the holding cell for a few hours, two men were brought in, Malik Lamar Dwight and Benjamin Qushaw McCallum, and they approached Grant. He had just gotten off the telephone when one of the men punched him in the jaw, a report said.

Grant said he was punched three or four more times. Grant told authorities he didn’t know the men and never spoke to them. He said they punched him and then “sat back down,” the report said.

Rowan County Sheriff’s officials offered to have Grant taken to the hospital, but he refused. He told them he would have a family member take him and that he just wanted to make bond so he could get out.

Grant had a broken jaw, which required surgery. A Rowan detective spoke with Grant, who said he would likely have to be in the hospital for two days. His jaw had to be wired shut.

Dwight, 18, of the 500 block of Fourth Street, Spencer, was charged with misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested Sunday by Spencer Police and charged with felony breaking and entering. Dwight remains in the county jail under a total bond of $8,500.

McCallum, also 18, was charged with misdemeanor assault inflicting serious bodily injury. He was also arrested and charged by Spencer Police. McCallum was charged on Sunday for felony breaking and entering and felony larceny. He’s also been charged with probation violation. He remains in the county jail under a total $12,500 secured bond.

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.