Wild Monday night for authorities

WILD MONDAY NIGHT FOR AUTHORITIES
Hospital disturbance, assault, teen in roadway keeps law enforcement hopping

Photos by Jon Mayhew/TCS
(Left photo) Lincolnton Police Sgt. Jeremy Wilson leads James Weldon Garrett out of the Lincoln County Magistrate's Office. (Right photo) Moments later, officer Richard Harrington leads Lizbeth Colon out to an awaiting patrol car. Both were charged with assaulting each other at the Colonial Village Apartments Monday night.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLN COUNTY -- While there wasn't a full moon Monday night, law enforcement in Lincoln County would swear otherwise.

Three calls, virtually all during the 9 o'clock hour Monday night, kept police and sheriff's deputies on their toes and led to at least two arrests.

First, Lincolnton Police were called to Colonial Village Apartments off Vandiver Drive in reference to an assault.

When they arrived, they found Lizbeth Colon had been assaulted by her boyfriend, James Weldon Garrett. Garrett had left the scene and authorities learned he may have been armed with a kitchen knife.

Authorities began looking for the 22-year-old Garrett, and got a break when the police were told Garrett was calling from the Times Turn Around on Maiden Highway, near Vandiver Drive.

Authorities arrived at the store and took Garrett into custody. Police said he wasn't armed with a knife.

Garrett was arrested for assaulting a female. The victim, Colon, was also taken into custody for assault and battery.

Police said they found physical evidence of assault on both parties.

In the second call, Lincolnton Police officer Spencer Summers was working security at Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln Monday night when a fight broke out in the parking lot near the Emergency Room.

It's not known what the fight was over; however, officers quickly responded to Summers' call for assistance.

Authorities said it's rare for Summers to call for backup in just about any situation due to his calm, easygoing demeanor.

Authorities arrived to find a large crowd in the employee parking area of the hospital.

No injuries were reported in the second call and police say no arrests were made.

People leaving the East Lincoln/West Lincoln football game Monday night may have encountered a teenager on Highway 27 west, darting dangerously in and out of traffic.

Within a 20 minute period, the Lincoln County Communications Center received two calls of the teenager nearly getting struck by at least one vehicle. Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department were called to two separate locations along Highway 27.

Officers didn't report finding anything upon arrival.