Authorities say things got rowdy over the weekend at a local restaurant when a patron got into a fight there and assaulted two female employees. Salisbury Police officials say Edward Coleman Barbour, 40, whose address is listed as the Days Inn hotel, Bendix Drive, Salisbury, was charged following an unprovoked fight that left some people with minor injuries. Barbour was charged Sunday with two counts of assault on a female and simple assault, all misdemeanors.
The incident occurred at Applebee’s restaurant, Faith Road, shortly after midnight. Police say when an officer arrived at the restaurant following calls of a disturbance, they saw 15-20 people outside the restaurant. Those in the crowd pointed the finger at a man standing in the middle of a circle of people as being the aggressor in the situation, a report said. That man was later identified as Edward Barbour. Barbour had a bloody nose and was wearing a ripped T-shirt.
Salisbury Police Capt. Shelia Lingle said Barbour and another man were sitting at the bar of the restaurant when they got up, appearing to leave the restaurant. Barbour is said to have walked by another patron and punched him in the face. A fight began between the two men. A waitress, Sara Corriher, tried to break up the fight and Barbour punched her, injuring her lip. The restaurant manager, Melissa Rusmisell, tried to come to Corriher’s aid in the melee and was shoved to the ground by Barbour, a report said.
Both women didn’t know what the initial fight was about and the male victim left the restaurant before police arrived. Other restaurant patrons said Barbour also spit blood into the face of Jason Head, another restaurant customer. Barbour remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under $7,500 secured bond.