By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

A Cleveland man faces a number of charges after taking Iredell County authorities on a vehicle chase Wednesday. The incident began as a home invasion in Rowan County, authorities said.

Curtis Luther Dalton Jr., 28, of 4075 Third Creek Church Road, was charged with two counts of discharging a firearm into occupied property and possession of a firearm by a felon. He also was charged with six counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, felony speeding to elude arrest, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, and careless and reckless driving.

Rowan County deputies responded at 8:20 a.m. Wednesday to 2335 Phifer Road, Cleveland, to a report of a home invasion. Deputies met with the caller, Harley Joe Dalton, who lives at the Phifer Road address.

Deputies quickly determined that there had not been a home invasion at the home but that Harley Dalton’s cousin, who was identified as Curtis Luther Dalton Jr., had pointed a rifle at Harley Dalton. Curtis Dalton left the area before deputies arrived.

Harley Dalton told deputies that the incident was related to something that happened the night before.

He said he had received a text from his Curtis Dalton, who said he was going to do harm to himself. Harley located his cousin at an address on Hobson Road.

Harley Dalton said he took Curtis Dalton back to the Phifer Road home and that Curtis Dalton’s girlfriend was also there. He said that Curtis Dalton and the girlfriend got into an argument and left the residence.

Curtis Dalton returned about 10 p.m. and was angry that Harley Dalton had taken firearms that belonged to him to another location to prevent Curtis from gaining access to them.

Curtis Dalton found the weapons and brought them back to his cousin’s home. Harley Dalton said Curtis threatened him, saying that he was going to shoot him in the kneecaps, but instead fired a shot that struck a window in Harley Dalton’s vehicle.  Harley Dalton said  Curtis Dalton fired three more shots from an unknown type of long gun, possibly a .22 rifle, and that the shots hit the windshield of his car.

Harley Dalton said his cousin left again with his girlfriend. He said he tried to report the crimes to the Cleveland Police Department that night, but no one answered. He did not try to call 911.

Harley Dalton told deputies that Curtis returned Wednesday morning and initially acted as if nothing had happened the night before. But then the two men argued, Rowan authorities said in a statement.

Harley Dalton said Curtis Dalton retrieved a rifle from his car and pointed it at him, all the while making a cutting motion by dragging his thumb across his neck. Harley said Curtis left in the black Nissan, and he called 911.

Rowan deputies determined that Curtis Dalton had been arrested in Virginia previously over a period of years and that he was wanted in Virginia for additional felony charges. Curtis Dalton had a 2014 conviction in Rowan County District Court for felony obtaining property by false pretense.

Investigators went to the Rowan County Magistrate’s Office and obtained warrants for Curtis Luther Dalton, then learned that Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies were in pursuit of Curtis Dalton in Iredell County.

In a chase with deputies, Dalton refused to stop and intentionally hit two deputies’ vehicles, reports said.

Dalton ended up wrecking the black Nissan when the vehicle overturned in a creek on Debbie Lane near U.S. 21. He ran from that crash, leaving a woman believed to be his girlfriend inside the vehicle. Authorities found several guns in the vehicle. Curtis Dalton was eventually caught by Iredell County deputies after he stole a work van from the area of Cooper Farm Road. He was arrested near Mile Marker 54 on Interstate 77.

The chase began shortly after noon, when Curtis Dalton and another person tried to elude authorities.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.