Suspect sought in assault

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 31, 2011

Salisbury Police have issued warrants for Harvey Leon Ratcliff, a man who they say robbed and pistol-whipped a Salisbury man Saturday night.
On Saturday night around 8 p.m., police say a drug deal went bad at 1035 Matika Drive.
Mark Isaksson called 911 and reported that someone with the nickname “L” came over to sell crack cocaine to someone at his home.
When Ratcliff arrived, he did not recognize Isaksson and asked him if he was a police officer, the report said.
Ratcliff reportedly went into a back room of the home to conduct the deal, police say, and then came to the front of the home and stuck a small silver handgun to Isaksson’s head, asking for his wallet.
Isaksson handed over his wallet, and Ratcliff hit him in the head, police reported.
Ratcliff and another black male, who was seen putting a handgun in the waistband of his pants, sped off out of the parking lot.
Once found, Ratcliff will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and robbery with a deadly weapon.