Authorities charged a Salisbury man a month after witnesses said he struck another man who tried to break up a fight at a local apartment complex.
The incident occurred Sept. 5 at Clancy Hills Apartments, but the fight wasn’t reported until the victim was rushed to the hospital the next day.
Salisbury Police charged Jonathan Elijah Ijames, 23, of the 300 block of Calhoun Street, with felony assault inflicting serious injury, misdemeanor fictitious registration card and misdemeanor no operator’s license.
Officials said Melvin Maurice Cruse, 28, of Cooleemee, tried to break up a fight at Clancy Hills when he was hit from behind with brass knuckles. A friend walked Cruse home and the next day his family took him to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center. Hospital officials said Cruse was in serious condition. His skull was fractured and his brain was bleeding.
He was flown to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where he remains. Police said witnesses came forward, which aided the investigation and led to an arrest.