Suspect Hits 7-year-old, Woman With Car Fleeing Accident

MOORESVILLE, NC — A traffic accident turned violent in Mooresville recently after a man wanted on an outstanding warrant hit a woman from behind, took her cell phone so she couldn’t report it and then struck her, her 7-year-old son and a bystander with his vehicle as he attempted to flee the scene, Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said Tuesday.

The Aug. 30 incident unfolded near Langtree Road at Interstate 77, when the woman’s vehicle was struck from behind by Mooresville resident Omar Anthony Coleman, 22.

As she attempted to call 911 to report the accident, Coleman asked her to hang up because he was wanted on an outstanding warrant.

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When the woman refused, he assaulted her, grabbed her cell phone and returned to his vehicle, according to an ICSO report.

“Several eyewitnesses stopped to help the female and tried to block Coleman’s vehicle, however he put the vehicle in reverse and moved with the female still partially in his driver’s door,” the report said. As this was happening, the victim’s 7-year-old son got out of their car and ran to his mother. “Coleman struck the victim, her child and an eyewitness with his vehicle and drove away,” the report said.

A tip from a witness who followed the suspect and called law enforcement with a location and description led deputies to him, Campbell said. He was located “within minutes” on Bridges Farm Road in Mooresville, he said.

The victim and her son were treated for minor injuries by emergency medical responders and taken to a medical facility for evaluation.

Coleman was arrested and charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, common law robbery and interfering with 911 communications. He was also served with an outstanding Order for Arrest for failure to appear on a drug possession charge.

Photo courtesy of Iredell County Sheriff’s Office