Man charged with assault for dragging deputy on motorcycle

The man whom a Rowan County Sheriff’s deputy tried to stop for speeding on a stolen motorcycle with no license plates who ended up dragging the deputy down a road before the officer managed to stop him is now facing assault charges. Kenneth Lennard Wells, 35, initially signaled he was pulling over for the deputy, but then gunned the motorcycle engine, racing through local streets in Salisbury at up to 80 mph before trying to make two u-turns to escape. Deputy Nathan Naturile managed to grab Wells when he hit the cruiser, but Wells dragged the deputy a few feet before the officer managed to flip Wells off. It did mean the bike landed on the deputy, who suffered bruises in the incident, but Wells was arrested. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer or government official, felony flee to elude, resist, obstruct or delay of a public officer and speeding. He was given a $200,000 bond and was to appear in court Wednesday.

In other Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reports

• A report of an ordinance violation regarding solid waste disposal on South Main Street, China Grove was received at 8:16 a.m. Aug. 27.

• Elizabeth Grace Eagle, 22, was arrested Aug. 27 and charged with misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, communicating threats and two counts of injury to real property.

• Cedric Dewayne Francis, 48, was arrested Aug. 27 and charged with possession of Schedule II controlled substance.

In Salisbury Police reports

• Officers responded to reports of a fight on Mahaley Avenue at 6:48 a.m. Aug. 28.

• A burglary from a commercial property in the 1000 block of Lexington Avenue reportedly occurred between 5 p.m. Aug. 18 and 12:10 p.m. Aug. 28. Total estimated loss was $3,250.

• Amey Williams, 45, was arrested Aug. 28 and charged with trafficking heroin.