LUMBERTON — A Lumberton man was stabbed and a police officer hit in the face during a fight on Second Street Wednesday night, according to Maj. Tommy Barnes.
Officer Joe Butler was hit in the face with a closed fist while trying to break up a fight between two men at PJ’s Convenience Store, Barnes said.
According to Barnes, Butler was flagged down on Second Street by a person who claimed someone had tried to run over his child. Barnes said he did not believe a child had been harmed.
A fight then broke out and drew a crowd of about 30 people. Butler called in back-up because of the growing crowd, Barnes said.
One of the people involved in the fight, 27-year-old Lamont Covington, attempted to hit another person in the face, instead striking Butler. During the fight, Covington suffered about a 5-inch laceration, Barnes said. Pepper spray was used during the scuffle, Barnes said.
A charge of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury is pending against 39-year-old Tracy Regan, of Alamac Road, for cutting Covington with a knife, Barnes said.
Covington, who lives on East First Street, has been charged with simple affray and was jailed under a $2,500 bond, according to an arrest report.
Sarah Willets can be reached at 910-816-1974 or on Twitter @Sarah_Willets.