MAN ARRESTED FOR
LINCOLN COUNTY ASSAULT

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Lincolnton Police didn't have to go very far to investigate an assault of a female by a man from Charlotte.

Around 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, two vehicles pulled into the police department parking lot. In one vehicle were two males. In the other, a Charlotte man and Cornelius woman following in another vehicle.

Officer Richard Taylor responded to the scene and discovered the female, believed to be from Mecklenburg County, had been assaulted by Isacc Lartey, 33, somewhere in Lincoln County.

"The victim lives in Cornelius, and the stories we're receiving are conflicting," said Taylor.

Taylor said the victim and suspect had a previous relationship.

"The victim said as they were traveling Highway 27, the suspect grabbed her cell phone and slammed her head against the window," said Taylor, adding the victim showed signs of a physical altercation.

The incident started in Cornelius, according to authorities, and ended after Lartey chased the vehicle into Lincolnton, down East Main Street and around the Court Square.

The driver of the silver vehicle admitted to traveling an estimated 75 miles-per-hour down East Main Street to try and avoid being ran over by the suspect.

When Officer Taylor and Officer Mark Sain arrived at the department, the subjects were already out of the vehicles.

The female left with the two other males about 30 minutes after the incident started, going to the Magistrate's Office to take out a warrant against Lartey.

Bond for Lartey was set at $1,500 secured, with a court date scheduled for Jan. 9, 2009 according to the arrest log at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.