By Kathi Keys
The Courier-Tribune
RAMSEUR, N.C. — “The Lord was looking out for me” is how Ramseur Police Chief Larry Lewallen described escaping serious injury on Saturday.
“It could have been much worse.”
As he attempted to arrest a suspect for a 50-B protective order violation, he was dragged by the man’s vehicle, with his arm inside it, about 15 to 20 feet; his foot was run over and then he was knocked to the pavement.
“I was slammed onto the pavement so hard that the last thing I remember was looking up the street, starting to pull my gun out (in case the vehicle turned around and came back) and seeing it disappearing toward PNC Bank,” Lewallen said Saturday night, by phone, at his home.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Randolph County EMS responded to an emergency call about a person struck by a vehicle at 1516 Main St. in Ramseur. Air care was initially thought needed for the stricken person who was reported to have been hit by a champagne-colored vehicle.
EMS reported Saturday evening that the patient’s injuries weren’t as serious as originally thought so air care was canceled and the individual was transported to Randolph Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
That individual turned out to be Ramseur’s police chief who said he was X-rayed and checked over at the hospital and released.
“It appeared that nothing was broken,” he said about his injuries, but he admitted to being very sore. He’ll follow up with his family doctor on Monday.
“Hopefully, I won’t be off too long. We’re shorthanded.”
He was told by Ramseur officers that his assailant turned himself into the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office after a broadcast was issued for the suspect’s Chevrolet Tahoe.
He said Michael Smith of the Pleasant Garden area was arrested for felony assault on a government official, felony assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill and a 50-B violation. Further information about Smith and the exact charges were not available Saturday night.
Lewallen said a Ramseur resident obtained a 50-B protective order on Friday against an individual who had continued to contact her, calling her seven times Saturday morning in violation of the order. Shortly after 2 p.m. the chief was notified that the woman, her mother and children were at the Ramseur Diner where the subject appeared and wanted her to come outside and talk.
He went to the restaurant, approached the individual and told him that he was under arrest for a protective order violation. “He pretty much paid me no mind.”
The chief attempted to arrest the man who then ran by him and as he did Lewallen said he grabbed the individual’s shirt, which ripped, and tried to trip him. The man ran across the street toward Town Hall and the chief pursued him, now with pepper spray in his hand.
The man got into his vehicle and Lewallen said he stuck his left arm and hand into the vehicle to pepper spray the suspect. As he did, the man drove forward in the vehicle and Lewallen’s arm got stuck on what he believed was the seat belt. “I couldn’t get out and he was dragging me up the street.”
He figured the distance was 15 to 20 feet and his foot was run over before he was free of the vehicle and “slammed” to the pavement.
Lewallen, who’s been Ramseur’s chief since Jan. 1 this year, said he’s appreciative of everyone’s concern about his injuries, including the individuals on the scene of the accident - Ramseur Fire Department members, EMS personnel and citizens who were in the diner at the time, including the woman who had taken out the protective order against Smith.
“I’ll be back on the road soon.”
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