SALISBURY — A Salisbury man went on an unexpected road trip last night, riding on the hood of his Dodge Challenger for about 1.4 miles down Gheen Road as his estranged wife was trying to take the car, authorities reported today.
According to a report by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Jason Michael House, 42, 2175 Gheen Road, was inside his home and heard his car’s engine crank. When he went outside he said he saw his estranged wife, Patricia Wise, 38, of 280 Old Wood Lane, in the driver’s seat.
He tried to stop her from leaving by reaching inside the car and grabbing her, but she rolled up the driver’s side window, trapping his arm, the report said. House screamed and Wise rolled the window back down.
House said he ran in front of the car and ordered Wise to stop.
Wise hit House with the car, the report said, and House held onto the hood, riding down Gheen Road.
Wise stopped the car and House sat on it, refusing to move until authorities arrived.
Authorities spoke to Wise, who said she wanted to pick up the car because House refused to remove her name from the joint title. She told authorities House grabbed her arm and neck when he reached into the car, and said she was pleading with House to get off the hood of the car and let her leave, the report said.
Both House and Wise were taken to the magistrate’s office and charged.
Wise was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and House was charged with assault on a female. They were both placed in the Rowan County jail without bond pending their first appearance in court.
The 2009 Dodge Challenger was towed.