By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

MOORESVILLE — A Charlotte man believed to be impaired was charged with breaking into a Mooresville businesse Sunday after blaming the break-in on being chased by Russian truck drivers.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Viktor Zubko, 36, of the 3700 block of Prosperity Church Road, with breaking and entering and vandalism, both misdemeanors.

Deputies responded to 210 Performance Road in reference to an alarm call at Quarter Mile Muscle, a classic car restoration business, and found a broken front window. The same deputy saw an empty Mercedes Benz Sprinter sitting in a parking lot at Browning Automotive and Collision, 410 Performance Road, with the driver’s side door open. The vehicle was registered under Michael Self LLC, said Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford.

A 1971 Chevrolet pickup was found at 503 Performance Road with the headlights burning and the passenger’s side door was unlocked. The vehicle was registered to Wayne Rorvig, officials said.

Deputies found droplets of blood on the car seat, floorboard and smeared on the instrument panel.

Rowan and Mooresville authorities were not able to reach anyone with Michael Self LLC or Browning Automotive and Collision.

Two deputies went inside Quarter Mile Muscle to investigate the broken front window when they saw a trail of blood inside a hallway. The officers followed the trail to an employee break room and then to a bathroom and another door. A report said fresh blood was found on the door handle leading into a garage. Inside the garage the deputies found footprints in dust on the floor and more blood.

A dry chemical fire extinguisher had been discharged inside the garage. A deputy said in his report there was blood smeared on the wall, as if “someone were searching for a light switch.”

A K-9 was called in and at the same time one of the deputy’s saw a man walking in the 500 block of Performance Road and asked him to stop. The man continued and took off when another deputy approached.

The man was later identified as Viktor Zubko; upon searching him they found he had two pocket knives, one of which had a missing blade, as well as a pocket-sized multi-purpose tool.

When deputies caught up to Zubko he had cuts on his face and arms. He refused medical treatment, authorities said.

Zubko told deputies he met two Russian truck drivers. Zubko admitted he went inside the building and probably got cut from going inside or running through the woods. When asked what building he was referring to, Zubko pointed to Quarter Mile Muscle. He further said he intentionally set off the alarm because the Russian truck drivers were trying to kill him.

Authorities said the shoe prints matched Zubko and a blade matched the knife handle he was carrying. He was unsteady on his feet, was twitching, speaking very fast and was unable to stand still, a report said.

He was issued a $2,500 secured bond and has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center.

A then 23-year-old Zubko was convicted in 2003 of second-degree murder after driving impaired and killing another motorist. He served just over 10 years.