Man flees police, then attacks officer
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 21, 2011
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man made a mad dash when he saw police pull up at a friend’s house on Merritt Avenue.
Willie James Johnson Jr., 18, of 224 S. Merritt Ave., assumed they were there to arrest him, but they were actually there for his friend.
Salisbury Police Capt. Melonie Thompson said Johnson took off running through backyards before being cornered in a garage by Detective Travis Shulenburger.
From there, Johnson dove head-first through a window. Despite substantial cuts to his head, Johnson still tried to get away from Shulenburger by attempting to cut him with a broken piece of glass and swinging at him with a rack.
Shulenburger managed to detain Johnson.
He was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center to be treated for his cuts. Thompson said he received 13 staples to his head.
Johnson has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, resisting police and misdemeanor breaking and entering.
When officers took him to the magistrate’s office, they also found out he had warrants out for his arrest for felony breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering.
He is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.