Six weeks after a fight between pets, turned into a fight between owners, a Highlands man has been arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and resisting arrest, for his role in the incident.
According to Highlands Police Department reports, Victor Gheoghe Preda, 70, of Highlands, got into a verbal argument with the victim near the entrance to the Kelsey Trail Preserve on 5th Street on Feb. 1.
“A man, later identified as Preda, was reportedly allowing his three dogs to run off-leash in the area,” a statement from Highlands PD read. “The victim, who was walking a dog of his own, asked Mr. Preda to regain control of his dogs. Mr. Preda approached the victim and hit him in the chest. In response, the victim pushed Mr. Preda away. Mr. Preda fell to the ground, and the victim was able to walk from the area.”
As he walked away, the victim realized he had suffered a stab wound just below his armpit, near his rib cage. Once Highlands Police officers and Macon County EMS arrived on the scene, the victim was transported to Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and later to Mission Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Preda suffered a serious injury from the fall and officers transported him to Angel Medical Center.
A warrant filed by Highlands Police officer Mike Jolly notes that Preda told the victim, “you think you’re one of those tough guys” before stabbing him. The warrant also notes that when HPD officers arrived on scene, Preda refused to cooperate and resisted calls to put his hands behind his back.
According to HPD reports, the incident took place outside of the designated “leash law zone” in Highlands, which covers most of the business district – including all of Main Street between the intersection of NC106 and the intersection of 6th Street. The leash law zone extends down 5th Street, but it ends at the corner of 5th and Spruce.
Despite being outside the designated “leash law zone” the town’s animal control ordinance does state that all dogs must be under “immediate physical control of a competent person” at all times while in public inside town limits.
Preda was arrested on March 19 and issued an initial court date of April 3.