Man tries to duck out of hospital bill, is arrested

Published 12:00 am Monday, April 18, 2016

A Wilkesboro man faces charges of identity theft after he allegedly provided a false social security number to escape a hospital bill.

Dustin Steven Perkins, 32, was arrested Saturday after he gave a false social security number at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center “to avoid identification by police and avoid financial responsibility for treatment.” According to warrants, on the same day Perkins also provided a false name and birthdate to Salisbury Police officers who were investigating a domestic assault that allegedly involved a weapon. While at Novant Health Rowan, warrants allege that Perkins intentionally caused a public disturbance “intended and plainly likely to cause a breach of the peace” by hurling obscenities at hospital staff and Salisbury Police officers.

According to warrants, Perkins also allegedly placed a female in a headlock Saturday and struck her in the face repeatedly with a closed fist.

Perkins was Placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and charged with assault on a female, felony identity theft and resisting a public officer.