Man who pled guilty to trespassing allegedly returned and assaulted property owner after release

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 6, 2023

SALISBURY — A man recently released from jail after pleading guilty to trespassing on a woman’s property was arrested after police say he returned to the same property and assaulted her.

Deputies responded to a home in the 1000 block of Misty Tunnel Lane in reference to a physical disturbance around 2 a.m. on Sunday, according to a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. The victim reportedly told police that the man began to hear voices that were not actually there and speak about things not happening. The victim then tried to leave the room, but the man allegedly grabbed her by her hoodie and pulled her into another room.

There, the spokesperson said that the man forced her to the floor and stood over her, pinning her to the floor with his foot.

Deputies then arrived at the home and attempted to place the man under arrest for the assault, but he allegedly resisted by trying to pull away from them and keeping his hands under his body to prevent being handcuffed after he was forced to the ground. Deputies eventually gained control of the man and took him into custody.

Justin Gray Morgan, 36, was charged with resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer and domestic violence assault. Morgan was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Morgan was previously arrested on Oct. 30 for allegedly swinging a baseball bat at bystanders outside of a convenience store. He still has charges of going armed to the terror of the public and disorderly conduct pending against him in relation to that incident. 

Morgan was also arrested for second-degree trespassing on Nov. 2 after police said that he refused to leave the same home after being asked to. Morgan pleaded guilty to the charge, according to court documents.