Man Faces Drug and Officer Assault Charges

Rutherford County -- April 22, 2024: Rutherford County Sheriff's Office: Saturday, Deputies with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol division and Officers with the

Forest City Police Department were working a traffic checkpoint in the area of Forest Hunt Drive in Forest City.

A vehicle being operated by Diego Salgado came through the check point and officers noticed narcotics in plain view, inside the car. An attempt was made to get Diego out of the vehicle, which he resisted, and took off at a high rate of speed injuring two Forest City Police Officers. One officer suffered a broken hand and one officer sustained bruising on the elbow.

Deputies pursued the vehicle approximately 4.2 miles before the operator lost control, crashed into a ditch and ran on foot. Deputies caught up with Diego, and after a short foot pursuit and struggle, Diego was taken into custody. During this altercation, a deputy suffered a dislocation and laceration of his finger.

Further investigation led to the discovery of approximately 1.2 grams of cocaine, 39.69 grams of marijuana resin, 44.22 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia that was in Diego’s vehicle. Forest City Officers recovered 23.22 grams of Methamphetamine and 22.36 grams of cocaine from Diego prior to him fleeing. The North Carolina Highway patrol responded to the scene of the crash and cited Diego for Driving under the influence.

Injured officers from this incident were all treated and released from the Rutherford Regional Hospital. Diego sustained injuries due to the crash and was treated in Spartanburg SC, he was released and taken into custody by South Carolina law enforcement where he is currently incarcerated awaiting extradition back to North Carolina on the following charges taken out by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and the Forest City Police Department:

pwisd cocaine

pwimsd mehthanmphetamine 

maint veh/dwelling/place for controlled substance 

assault on govt official x2

resisisting public officer 

window tinting violation 

felony flee/elude arrest with motor vehicle 

felony possession of cocaine 

felony assault physically injure law enforcement officer

misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger

misdemeanor possess marijuana up to 1/2 ounce

misdemeanor possess drug paraphernalia x2MISDEMEANOR POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA x2

misdemeanor failure to heed light or siren

misdemeanor possess marijuana paraphernalia  

dwi