Man Arrested After Overnight Standoff and Assault in Salisbury

Officers with the Salisbury Police Department arrested a Salisbury man early Wednesday morning following an assault and two-hour standoff that ended with the safe release of a juvenile inside a home.

According to police, officers responded around 3:45 a.m. on March 4 to a disturbance call in the 200 block of Henderlite Street in Salisbury.

When officers arrived, they spoke with a female victim who reported that she and her juvenile son had been assaulted by a man known to them. Police identified the suspect as Eugene D. Nolan, 40.

Investigators said both the woman and her son suffered non-life-threatening injuries consistent with an assault involving a knife.

Officers were also told that the victim’s juvenile daughter was still inside the residence with Nolan and that he was preventing her from leaving.

Due to the seriousness of the situation, members of the Salisbury Police Special Response Team responded along with negotiators from the Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.

After approximately two hours of negotiations, authorities said the juvenile inside the home was released unharmed and Nolan surrendered peacefully.

Nolan was taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, felony kidnapping, and two additional counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

He was transported to the Rowan County Detention Center where he is being held without bond.

“This situation had the potential to end very differently,” said Salisbury Police Chief PJ Smith. “Our officers showed patience, professionalism, and sound judgment throughout this incident. I’m proud of the work they did to safely resolve this situation.”

Smith also thanked the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance during the response.

Police say there is no ongoing threat to the community and thanked nearby residents for their patience and cooperation while officers worked to safely resolve the situation.