The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following, according to interim Chief Bobby Martin:

On Saturday at approximately 6:22 p.m., Officer H. Marshall was dispatched to the 800 block of Park Avenue following a report a woman was assaulted.

Marshall observed the victim was bruised, had scratches on her face and was in obvious distress.

Officers discovered the victim had been stabbed multiple times about her body with a knife.

The victim told officers she was attacked while making way to a family member’s house.

As she walked a man identified as Robert Pittman, 44, of Roanoke Rapids, ran at her and knocked her to the ground.

He began to hit her in the face and body and then pulled a knife and stabbed her multiple times.

The victim was carried to the hospital for treatment and at the time the injuries were not life-threatening.  

Pittman was found later in the evening and arrested and carried before a magistrate.

He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

The robbery charge stems from further investigation by Detective E. Johnson into items taken from the victim during the attack.

Pittman was carried to the Halifax County Jail without opportunity for bond due to the domestic nature of the crime and has a March 6 court date.

The victim is recovering from her injuries. “The officers conducting this investigation did an outstanding job working together and apprehending this suspect,” Martin said.

Lieutenant J. Baggett, Sergeant A. Salmon and officers J. Benthall and D. Newsome assisted.  

On Sunday at approximately 8:58 a.m., Baggett was on patrol when he spotted a vehicle with an improperly displayed registration plate.

Baggett initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver.

Baggett observed what appeared to be marijuana stems in the car. The driver reached over and placed the stems in his mouth and began chewing them up.

The driver was asked to get out of the car so the vehicle could be searched for any further drugs.

Baggett located a bag of marijuana in a storage compartment and a roach in the driver’s pocket. Johnnie Gatling, 51, of the Garysburg area, was issued a North Carolina citation for possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

He has an April 4 court date.

Salmon assisted.