By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Salisbury police detectives continue to investigate a violent assault that occurred Monday night in the Walmart parking lot.

Police officials responded to 323 S. Arlington St. where, according to a witness, a 39-year-old man was defending two women.

Police were called at 11:59 p.m. When an officer arrived, he found Andray Charleston on a stretcher and being placed in an ambulance. Charleston was bleeding from his face.

The witness, who was a friend of Charleston, told police that when she came out of the store, she saw a large Hispanic man beating up her friend.

The witness said she saw the man punch and stomp Charleston. She said she used her purse to hit the suspect to get him off Charleston. The witness said Charleston was sticking up for two women who were in a verbal argument.

Charleston and the suspect exchanged words, and another man approached Charleston and pulled him out of his car, according to a police report.

The suspects are believed to have been traveling in a dark sport utility vehicle that was seen leaving the area before police got there.

Charleston had a number of facial injuries and was unable to speak. He was taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and later transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Officials at the Winston-Salem hospital said they have no listing for Andray Charleston.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Salisbury police at 704-638-5333 or Salisbury-Rowan CrimeStoppers at 866-639-5245.

In other Salisbury police reports:

• AT&T reported that a maroon vehicle went off the road Wednesday and struck a telephone junction box at 1512 Tall Oaks Circle.

• A woman reported an assault Wednesday in the 2200 block of South Main Street.

• A man reported Thursday that his home was broken into in the 100 block of West 12th Street.

• A woman reported Thursday that someone threw rocks and broke windows on a building used as a church in the 800 block of South Railroad Street.

• Auto Works reported a money bag was taken from the office Thursday at 429 S. Main St.

• A man reported vandalism Thursday in the 300 block of Faith Road.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.