Off-duty Salisbury police officer accused of assaulting man, woman; deputies searching for 2nd suspect

SALISBURY, N.C. — An off-duty Salisbury police officer and another man are facing charges for assaulting a man and woman Saturday night in Rowan County.

Deputies were called to a home on Wilcoy Road to investigate a possible breaking and entering, and a possible assault.

A woman who lived there told deputies that Malik Byrd, who is a police officer, and his cousin, Kiante Cotton, showed up at her home at around 11:30 p.m. wanting to know who was in the house. The woman said she could tell Malik had been drinking due to his conversation and actions.

When the woman refused to tell Byrd and said she was going to call 911, he grabbed her arm and took her phone. She then told deputies that Byrd forcefully shoved her out of the way, went inside the home and confronted a man inside.

The woman said she stepped between Byrd and the man, but Byrd pushed her away. She then told authorities that Byrd and Cotton began to punch the man in the head, shoulders and back.

The woman then ran out of the house and began screaming for help. After, she said Byrd and Cotton left the home in a blue Nissan Versa.

The man told deputies that he pulled out his phone when Byrd initially came into the house, but that he took his phone from him.

The man told EMS that he felt lightheaded and was bleeding from his nose. He was treated on scene, but refused to be taken to a hospital.

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Byrd turned himself in Sunday morning. He has been charged with one count of breaking and entering, one count of simple assault, one count of assault on a female, and one count of interfering with calling 911.

Cotton is facing charges for simple assault, and for breaking and entering with intent to terrorize and injure. He has not been arrested at this point.

Byrd has been placed on paid administrative leave while Salisbury police do an internal review. He has worked with the Salisbury Police Department since 2018.

No other details have been released at this point.

Cox Media Group