Man faces charges of assault on law enforcement, fleeing police

SALISBURY, N.C. (WBTV) - A man will be in court in Rowan County on Monday after he was charged with a long list of criminal offenses for an incident that happened early Sunday morning.

According to police records, Salisbury Police charged Robert Alexander Steele, 19, with assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude arrest, drug possession, reckless driving to endanger, failure to stop at a stoplight, and speeding in excess of 25 miles-an-hour over the speed limit.

Steele was arrested in the 200 block of Lash Drive on Sunday at 2:05 a.m.

Bond was set at $250,000.

On Monday police released more information about the incident. They say an officer was initially responding to a shots fired call on Clancy St. As the officer drove west on Statesville Blvd. he noticed an overturned vehicle in front of the church on the corner of Statesville Blvd. and Brandon Drive.

Officers then spotted a white 2014 Volkswagen Passat that they say was speeding through the area. As officers attempted to stop the VW, they say the driver, Steele, continued on Statesville Blvd., eventually turning left onto Lash Drive.

The pursuit continued on Lash and through an apartment complex parking lot. At one point police say Steele attempted to hit a patrol car head-on. Moments later they say Steele swerved towards an officer who was out of his vehicle attempting to deploy stop sticks.

During the pursuit a passenger jumped out Steele’s car and ran away. Eventually Steele stopped his car and was taken into custody.

Witnesses said that multiple shots were fired in the area at the time. Police on the scene Sunday morning collected numerous shell casings from the road.

No officers were injured.