Rowan authorities looking for boyfriend accused of stabbing woman

Published 11:18 am Monday, October 15, 2018

CHINA GROVE — The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a China Grove man who is accused of stabbing his girlfriend during a domestic altercation at their Thunder Road home Sunday night.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a knife assault at 100 Thunder Road at 10:15 p.m. Sunday. A 28-year-old woman had several serious stab wounds, including an injury to her neck.

She was treated at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division identified Michael Timothy Battle, 33, as the suspect. He is the boyfriend of the victim, authorities said.

Both the woman and Battle live at the Thunder Road address.

The woman’s cellphone and cash were taken when Battle left the home before deputies arrived, authorities said.

Detectives obtained felony warrants for Battle, who faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and second-degree kidnapping.

Deputies were unable to find Battle overnight. Officials said the Cornelius Police Department pursued Battle after a suspicious vehicle was reported in a store parking lot Monday morning.

Battle led Cornelius police officers on a brief chase after he left the parking lot in his vehicle. They were unable to stop him.

Cornelius police obtained arrest warrants for Battle in connection to the chase.

Battle is also wanted for failure to pay child support. He was last seen driving a blue 2002 Ford Explorer.

Battle was added to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office’s most-wanted list.

Anyone with information on Battle’s location is urged to contact Lt. Chad Moose of the Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8687, Detective Patrick Schmeltzer at 704-216-8702 or Salisbury-Rowan CrimeStoppers at 866-639-5245.