By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — A sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries in an attack by a pit bull while serving a warrant at a China Grove home.

The deputy shot and killed the dog after it bit him twice and nearly attacked a third time, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

Two deputies went to a home in the 4200 block of Millbridge Road at 9:35 p.m. Friday to serve outstanding warrants for assault on a female and communicating threats, both of which are misdemeanors.

The deputies went to a back door because the front door was overgrown, a report said.

One deputy was near the back door while Deputy Adam Lovingood went around the house in case the man inside, 36-year-old Rodney Jerome Wagoner, left through another way.

Lovingood circled back just as the pit bull charged him. The dog jumped on the deputy’s right leg and bit him above the left knee. The deputy kicked at the dog and backed up. The dog came at him again, biting the deputy on the right leg below the buttocks. Lovingood kicked the dog and backed up again.

When the dog charged at the deputy a third time, Lovingood fired two shots, striking the dog in the left leg and the head.

Lovingood was treated at the scene by a Rowan County EMS crew.

Rowan County Animal Control officers were called to the scene.

Wagoner, the dog’s owner, apologized to the deputy for the dog bites.

The dog will be buried at Wagoner’s expense, the report noted.

Wagoner was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a 48-hour hold on the domestic assault charge and on a $1,500 secured bond for the charge of communicating threats.

Wagoner has previous convictions for assault on a female; assault with a deadly weapon; communicating threats; misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance; felony trafficking in a controlled substance; felony selling a controlled substance; maintaining a place for the sale of controlled substances; possession with intent to sell a controlled substance; carrying a concealed weapon; and discharging a firearm into an occupied property.