SALISBURY — A man was sent to the hospital Thursday evening after he was allegedly stabbed by his brother-in-law, Salisbury Police said.

Thursday evening at 9 p.m., police responded to a home in the 800 block of East Lafayette Street. Sydney Smith, 55, said he’d been in his apartment when his brother-in-law and roommate, Rufus Jerome Smith, 53, came inside.

According to Sydney and Sydney’s wife, Faye, Rufus struck Sydney on his head with a closed fist. Both of them fell to the ground. That’s when Rufus pulled out a knife, Sydney told police, and started cutting him.

Faye told police that she didn’t see her brother cutting her husband, but she did say that Rufus was holding a knife when he stood up and fled the apartment. Sydney suffered one cut to his forehead and two on his back. He was taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center by EMS.

Soon after, a second officer was called out to the 800 block of East Lafayette Street. There, the officer said he was met by a black male who identified himself as Rufus Smith. Smith said he had just walked from Kannapolis, and hadn’t been to his apartment yet. The officer reported that Rufus’ pants were covered in blood.

Rufus Smith was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $1,500 secured bond. Rufus Smith has previously been charged with selling a schedule II controlled substance, assault on a female. In 1986, Rufus Smith was charged with manslaughter in Cabarrus County.