"BIBLE MAN" GIVES POLICE FIT

By Jon Mayhew


William Edward Roach

LINCOLNTON -- A man who recently assaulted a Lincolnton Police officer with a Bible gave authorities headaches again Wednesday night.

Between 8pm and 8:30pm, officers were called to two different incidents involving William Edward Roach of Mallory Tai Drive.

First, police were called to Roach's residence in reference to a disturbance. When authorities arrived, they discovered that Roach had taken off.

Officer Richard Taylor stopped and talked to Roach, who told Taylor he needed help getting his medication. A family member told police she would drive Roach to the hospital, to try and help him get his medicine.

The second call came after Roach's sister called the Lincoln County Communications Center, telling dispatchers Roach had jumped out of his sister's vehicle and started running up East Main Street.

Officers stopped the subject on foot at the intersection of East Main Street and Generals Boulevard. After calming the subject down, officer Taylor convinced Roach to come to Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln to see what hospital officials could do about getting Roach his medication.

Roach was the man who assaulted officer Dwayne McAlister with a bible upon McAlister responding to a disturbance call at Roach's residence on Dec. 22, 2008.

After McAlister entered the residence, Roach screamed expletives at the officer, hitting him in the chest with a Bible.

Roach then refused to be arrested and had to be physically carried out of the house. He was charged with assaulting a government official.