RFP Staff
♦ According to sources in the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Freeman Franklin Payton III, 23, jailed for an alleged Salisbury shooting incident back on February 27th, added to his list of charges when he allegedly assaulted detention officer K. Peoples at the Rowan County Detention Center 0n Monday. It was reported that Payton allegedly punched and kicked the officer in the face, neck and right arm, reddening Peoples face and neck and leaving an abrasion on the officer’s arm.
Rowan County Detention Center, Salisbury, N.C.:
On Monday Payton was charged with assault/wdw on a law enforcement officer (felony) and added $5,000 to his secured bond. Payton’s previous charges are assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill (felony), probation violation (felony), discharge of a firearm into an occupied property officer inside (felony), and weapons possession by a felon of firearms etc. prohibited (felony). Payton remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a secured $80,000 bond.
Freeman Franklin Payton, III:
Back on February 27th Payton was jailed in Rowan County Detention Center. That Saturday Preston Hillie, 28, called 911 to report someone was shooting at his car. Hillie was driving by the 1500 block of West Innes near DJ’s Restaurant. Hillie, at the wheel a Chevvy Impala, swung an older model Honda and told 911 he was following the suspects who allegedly shot at him.
Soon a Salisbury Police patrol car caught up with the Honda on the 700 block of North Lee and East Henderson Streets. The Honda squealed to a stop before its passenger lit out. The officers sprinted after a man 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 was in the Rowan County Detention Center.
Freeman Franklin Payton’s Previous Record:
