By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

ROCKWELL — A Rockwell man who fired at Rowan authorities a week ago has been released from the hospital and is now facing felony assault charges.

Robert Dean Ashby, 71, of the 6900 block of Old Beatty Ford Road, was charged with two counts felony assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer and one count of misdemeanor resist, delay, obstruct an officer.

Rowan deputies went to the residence to assist EMS after a 911 call for a 71-year-old who was “acting out of his head.” The caller told officials they were afraid of the man. When authorities arrived, the family and EMS were trying to coax the man out of the home.

A family member said Ashby was armed with a handgun. Two deputies moved away from a door and moments later the man fired a .45-caliber handgun.

Ashby eventually came out of the home and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

— Shavonne Walker