RFP Staff
♦ Our grossly underpaid and understaffed Salisbury Police Department were dispatched to Salisbury’s mean streets on Saturday when Preston Hillie, 28, called 911 to report someone was shooting at his car. Hillie had just motored by the 1500 block of West Innes near DJ’s Restaurant. Soon Hillie, driving a Chevvy Impala, swung in behind a Honda beater and told 911 he was following the suspects.
Soon an SPD patrol car caught up with the Honda on the 700 block of North Lee and East Henderson Streets and the Honda squealed to a stop before its passenger lit out. The officers sprinted after a Black male later identified as Freeman Franklin Payton III, 23, of the 300 block of Harrel Street. Payton was seen with a pistol when he first got out of Honda, but when the police caught up with him he allegedly disposed of it during his flight.
A China Grove K-9 was brought to the scene to locate the missing handgun, but struck out. An officer later found the pistol in a trash can by 118 East Lafayette Street.
The Police identified the Honda’s driver as Joshua O’Bryan Studevent, 22, of the 700 block of East Liberty.
Payton was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill (felony), discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle (felony), and firearm possession by a felon prohibited (felony).
Under a secured $500,000 bond, Payton remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Studevent was charged aiding and abetting (felony) and possession of an open container of alcohol (misdemeanor). Under a secured $20,000 bond, Studevent is in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Payton’s Previous Record:
Studevent’s Previous Record:
Freeman Franklin Payton III:
Joshua O’Bryan Studevent:
Preston Hillie, Jr.:
