An Orange County man has been arrested on a series of assault charges after a domestic disturbance was reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
Authorities responded to the call of the incident on Trace Drive in Hillsborough at 11:10 a.m. Monday, according to a release.
A dispute involving 19-year-old Ryan Cherry Jr. and the mother of the couples’ three-month-old child occurred before deputies arrive on the scene Monday. The child’s mother was attempting to “end the exchange and leave the area,” asking that the child’s grandmother drive them from the scene.
Cherry then allegedly pursued the vehicle and struck it multiple times before taking the child and fleeing the scene.
Witness accounts, according to the release, said Cherry rammed the back of the vehicle occupied by the grandmother, mother and infant. Two other children under the age of four were also in the vehicle.
The first collision reportedly occurred as the grandmother was on the phone with 911.
Cherry allegedly struck the vehicle another time, causing it to spin out of control. Cherry then, according to law enforcement, hit the now-disabled vehicle a third time.
The 19-year-old then took the three-month-old child and left the scene.
Authorities later located Cherry’s 1997 Chevy Blazer at a relative’s home and took Cherry into custody without further incident.
The child was returned to its mother.
“I am grateful this extremely dangerous situation did not result in serious injury or loss of life,” Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a release. “When our deputies respond to a call involving domestic violence, they recognize the increased risks for everyone involved. Unfortunately, we are again reminded of the far reaching public health threat posed by domestic violence.”
Cherry has been charged with five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, four counts of assault on a female, driving while license revoked, fictitious registration and leaving the scene of an accident. He was also served with a domestic violence restraining order, according to law enforcement.
Cherry is being held without bond on the assault on a female charges. He was assigned a $150,000 secured bond for counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Cherry is scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
Officials said the North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted the sheriff’s office in Monday’s incident.
The sheriff’s office also encourages anyone dealing with domestic violence issues to contact the Compass Center for Women and Families at (919) 929-7122. The sheriff’s office crisis unit also is available to assist victims of domestic violence and can be reached at (919) 245-2900.
Photo via Orange County Sheriff’s Office
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