ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (Aug. 26, 2025) — The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is pushing back against a social media post alleging one of its deputies struck a suspect with a patrol vehicle earlier this month.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on August 15, when a deputy was called to assist Spencer Police with a disturbance near Seventh Street and Whitehead Avenue. Deputies say the man involved was walking in the middle of the road when he was confronted.
At that point, the Sheriff’s Office says, the man jumped onto the hood of the deputy’s patrol vehicle, causing damage. He was arrested for property damage.
Shortly afterward, a bystander took to Facebook claiming to have witnessed the deputy hit the suspect with the car, launching him into the air and leaving him injured. That account quickly raised concerns in the community.
Sheriff Travis Allen addressed the accusations on Tuesday, saying an internal review determined the Facebook account was false.
“The suspect was never struck with the deputy’s vehicle,” Allen said in a statement. “The only damage to the car was a dent in the hood where the suspect jumped. There was no front-end damage, no evidence of impact, and no injuries to the suspect.”
Detention center staff later confirmed the man reported no injuries upon booking and admitted that he had jumped on the hood himself, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Allen emphasized that transparency is critical but also cautioned against spreading false claims.
“At the end of the day, we all make mistakes, and when that occurs it is important that we admit it, fix it, and move on,” Allen said. “But it is equally important that just as we hold ourselves accountable, we also hold our citizens accountable when they make accusations against our deputies that are simply not true.”
The Sheriff’s Office did not release the name of the suspect but said the investigation into the damage charge is ongoing.