Man stuck in briars won't cooperate

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 1, 2011

Salisbury Police had to a shock a man with a Taser and cut him free from a briar patch after he tried to flee from shoplifting at the Dollar Tree on Jake Alexander Boulevard.
Capt. Shelia Lingle said when officers arrived at the store, Eric Lamont Graham, 30, of 2726 Goodnight Road, hopped onto a red moped without a helmet.
Officers followed Graham in the wooded area near Kelsey Scott Park.
Lingle said when police caught up to Graham, they tried to talk to him, but he jumped into the woods and landed in a briar patch.
At that point, police attempted to arrest Graham, but he began kicking.
Officers used a Taser to shock him. They had to use a knife to cut Graham free from the briars.
Lingle said Graham sustained multiple cuts from the briars.
Police found him in possession of $2 worth of baby lotion and $5 worth of clothes from the Dollar Tree.
He was also found with a crack pipe.
Lingle said the scooter Graham used to elude police was listed as stolen from a Winston-Salem residence.
Graham has been charged with two counts of resist, delay, obstruct a public officer, misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods.
He has been placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $13,000 secured bond.