RFP Staff
♦ Maybe word is out that a felon can comfortably blend in Salisbury, North Carolina with its large and impressive criminal element? 10 unsolved murders and some say the 9th ranked most dangerous city in State. Salisbury proved the end-of-the-line for fleeing Michael Eugene Harper, 35, of 3799 Highway 150 S. seeking refuge from Cherokee County, South Carolina narcotics violations. One wild ride Monday that wound up colliding with two vehicles at North Church and West Kerr Streets in Salisbury not far from Ralph Baker’s Shoes. Harper could’ve used some of Ralph Baker’s running shoes for his flight-on-foot.
Harper was arrested and charged with flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle (felony), driving the wrong way-one-way street/road (misdemeanor), unsafe passing yellow line (misdemeanor), 2 counts of reckless driving to endanger (misdemeanor), 2 counts driving while license revoked and speeding (misdemeanor), hit and run/leave the scene of an accident with property damage (misdemeanor), and in Rowan County elude arrest (felony). Harper was wanted to Guilford County for failure to appear (misdemeanor).
The high-speed chase began in Davidson County when a Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to make a vehicle stop of a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta. No such luck. Harper, driving at top-speed, flew through the intersection of Old Salisbury Road and Tyro Road at 100 miles-per-hour and then onto Highway 150 and Wilcox Way. Rowan County began with a blur. Soon Spencer and Salisbury Police picked up the chase. Not too long afterwards the Volkswagen Jetta rammed through the two vehicles at North Church and West Kerr streets in Salisbury and Harper attempted to go it on foot. The Salisbury Police ended that flight in a hurry and turned Harper over to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office for the arrest.
Harper’s passenger and owner of the Jetta, Shae Bell was charged with an expired registration plate. The Spencer Police impounded the car.
Under a $55,000 secured bond, Harper is currently in the Davidson County jail where he awaits a court hearing on September 30th. He also faces hearings in Rowan and Guilford Counties.
Michael Eugene Harper’s extensive criminal record:
