Neighboring dog bites resident

A Gatton Road, Cleveland resident called animal control Oct. 6 to report two German shepherds in his yard that he believed belonged to his neighbors. When he was told animal control was unable to take in strays on the weekend, he stepped outside the back door and fired a warning shot in the air, but the dogs did not leave. One of the dogs then barged into the man’s home, attacking the resident’s smaller white dog. In trying to protect his dog, the man was bitten on the hand and scratched on the stomach. A sheriff’s deputy arrived and was able to get the German shepherd out of the house, by which time animal control had arrived and was able to secure and remove both dogs. Animal control is continuing to try to locate the dogs’ owner.

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reports

• Larceny from a building on Cedar Drive reportedly occurred between 7 and 9 a.m. Oct. 6.

• An assault at a property on Jim Neely Road reportedly occurred about 11 p.m. Oct. 6.

• Elario Arias Perez, 32, was arrested Oct. 6 and charged with driving while impaired.

• Jordan McKay Fritz, 24, was arrested Oct. 6 and charged with abduction of children and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in a case out of Stanly County.

• Joseph Deward Phillips, 58, was arrested Oct. 6 and charged with crime of domestic violence.