At the annual Cheerwine Festival in Rowan County, a scene of celebration turned chaotic when a brawl involving juveniles prompted a swift response from local law enforcement, resulting in two officers sustaining injuries. As WBTV reports, officers from both the Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department engaged to disperse a fight among 5-10 juveniles on Saturday, leaving one Salisbury police officer with a severe concussion and a Rowan County deputy with a fractured hip.
The incident occurred amid the festival's activities, which annually draws a crowd to celebrate the iconic, local soft drink. Noted Salisbury investigators, the fight was reported during the event, and officials responded promptly. As covered by WCNC, the Salisbury officer was taken to Novant Hospital, while the injured deputy has remained hospitalized as of Monday afternoon.
The juveniles involved in the altercation were promptly detained and transported to the Salisbury Police Department. Despite the circumstances, all of the youths were eventually released to their guardians, as secure custody orders against them were sought and subsequently denied. WSOCTV reports that the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of escalating the charges in light of the officers' injuries.
Authorities are urging anyone with information relating to the bout of violence to step forward. Police are particularly interested in any footage or eyewitness accounts that might aid in the investigation. Detective Marks is the designated point of contact and can be reached at 704-638-5333.
