By Shavonne Potts
shavonne.potts@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man is wanted by police after a domestic-related assault that involved his three young children and their grandmother.

The father, identified as Erick Jose Santos, 22, is wanted on misdemeanor assault on a female, misdemeanor injury to real property, felony larceny, felony breaking and entering as well as interfering with 911 communications.

The incident occurred Tuesday around 12:40 p.m. at a home in the 600 block of Linn Lane. The victim, who was the grandmother, called police to say the father of her grandchildren arrived at the home and there was a violent encounter.

The woman said she was cooking when the father walked through the unlocked front door. He was upset and allegedly threw their belongings including a laptop.

He told the grandmother, “If she’s going to break (expletive), then I’m going to start breaking (expletive).”

Santos was angry about damage to his vehicle, said Police Detective Russ DeSantis.

He tried to keep the grandmother from calling 911. Santos and the grandmother struggled over the telephone, which led them outside. Santos reportedly shoved the grandmother to the ground and took the phone. He grabbed one of the children and took off with the child, DeSantis said. The grandmother was able to call 911 from a neighbor’s home.

DeSantis said the mother soon arrived home while police were there. She told the officers she and the father were no longer in a relationship and there was no custody agreement. The Rowan County Department of Social Services was called to the home since there were young children — a 2-year-old, 3-year-old and a 3-month-old.

Santos returned the child home later. Santos has previously been convicted of assault on a female and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.