SALISBURY — Police have obtained arrest warrants for a man who they said led them on a police chase before assaulting an officer.

The incident began at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, when deputies responded to a home on Waycross Drive in reference to an ongoing trespassing, according to a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. There, the caller pointed the deputy to 46-year-old Ronald Lee Howerton Jr., who the deputy reportedly knew had outstanding warrants for his arrest and who had allegedly fled from them before in a purple Dodge Dakota. More deputies responded to the scene due to Howerton’s alleged history of resisting arrest.

The deputies eventually noticed that same truck pull out of a nearby driveway at a high rate of speed and pursued it because they knew that Howerton’s license was suspended, the spokesperson said. The pursuit continued onto Shuping Mill Road, where the Dakota allegedly crossed the center line and drove in the wrong lane of traffic. The truck drove over stop sticks at the Old Beatty Ford Road intersection that caused both passenger-side tires to deflate, according to the spokesperson.

The pursuit continued onto Rock Grove Church Road before Howerton eventually pulled over into a gravel driveway in the 700 block of Parks Road and drove through a nearby pasture, according to the spokesperson. There, the truck continued until a dead end, where Howerton allegedly got out of his truck and fled on foot into nearby woods.

The deputy reportedly caught up to Howerton when he slipped and fell and attempted to place him into custody. At some point during the attempt, Howerton grabbed the deputy by the back of the head and tried to pull him to the ground, the spokesperson said. Eventually, other deputies assisted and Howerton was arrested.

EMS personnel were called to the scene to treat Howerton for injuries he may have sustained during the incident, the spokesperson said. He was transported to Atrium Health Cabarrus for treatment.

Deputies reportedly searched the vehicle and found a crystal-like substance and drug paraphernalia. They then took out warrants for felony flee to elude; felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance; assault on a government official; possession of drug paraphernalia; resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer; injury to personal property; and injury to real property.

As of Tuesday morning, Howerton was still in the hospital being treated for unrelated medical issues, the spokesperson said.