RFP Staff
♦ Donald Eugene Rayfield, 60, of the 1000 block of Rock Pond Lane was arrested Wednesday night and charged with multiple assault with a deadly weapon on a government official (felony), Communicating threats (misdemeanor), and assault on a female. He is currently in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $27,500 secured bond.
Rowan County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called out to 1000 block of Rock Pond Lane to investigate an assault. Rayfield was alleged to have assaulted his mother earlier Wednesday morning. When the deputies knocked on the door, Rayfield failed to open the door and told them he feared what they might do. Rayfield became increasingly agitated, warning a deputy he’d cut his head off and shove his nose into his brain. Rayfield claimed officers once broke his collarbone.
Rayfield told the deputies he had a 9 mm automatic and would employ it on the first man through the door. A deputy spotted a hatchet, but no handgun. Shortly thereafter more deputies arrived at the Rock Pond property. When they told Rayfield they were going to serve him with warrants, he slammed the door. From that point on the situation disintegrated. First a deputy flipped a concussion grenade into the house which got Rayfield loudly reaffirming his possession of a “9mm”. At that point he began to menace the deputies with his hatchet. When ordered to drop the weapon, Rayfield refused. Next he was tasered twice with no affect. Finally pepper spray ended the episode and Rayfield was handcuffed while still shouting obscenities.
Rayfield has had several previous scuffles with the law:
