THOMASVILLE, NC — A crash in Thomasville escalated into a violent road rage confrontation Thursday afternoon, ending with one person stabbed, a police officer using pepper spray and five adults arrested. Police said the disturbance began around 3:30 p.m. near North Carolina Highway 109 and Liberty Drive after a caller reported that people involved in the crash were fighting and that one of them had a knife.
The Thomasville Police Department said the first officer to arrive found multiple adults and juveniles in an active confrontation. The officer was alone at first and tried to separate everyone involved, disarm the person carrying the knife and keep the scene under control until backup arrived.
Officer arrives alone to a crowded and escalating fight
Police said the initial response quickly became difficult because several people were still arguing and behaving aggressively when the first officer got there. According to the department, repeated verbal commands did not stop the confrontation, and the officer continued trying to prevent more fighting while securing the knife.
The department said the officer successfully located the person with the knife and took it away during the struggle to regain control. Before additional officers could arrive, the crowd remained disorderly enough that the officer determined a stronger response was needed to stop the scene from getting worse.
That response included a brief burst of department-issued OC spray, or pepper spray, after a juvenile repeatedly tried to re-engage the opposing group and ignored lawful commands, police said. The juvenile was detained and taken into custody, and other officers arrived shortly after to help secure the area.
Stabbing leaves one person with a head wound and stitches
Officers said one person suffered a stab wound to the head during the disturbance. Emergency personnel said the injury required stitches, though police said the injured person declined treatment and transport to a nearby hospital.
EMS also treated a juvenile at the scene and later at the Thomasville Police Department for injuries tied to being pepper sprayed. Police did not say whether anyone else needed hospital care or how the fight started beyond the crash and the roadside argument.
The department described the incident as a chaotic multi-person confrontation involving adults and juveniles. Officials said the scene involved both physical conflict and repeated attempts by some people to continue the fight even after police gave commands to stop.
Five adults face charges after the disturbance
Police arrested five adults in connection with the incident and listed a range of charges tied to the fight, the stabbing and the effort to control the scene. Those charged are Shenara D. Roach-Lytch, 29, of High Point; Melissa Ann Dulaney, 50, of Thomasville; Joseph Doyle Dulaney, 52, of Thomasville; Sumer Daun Dulaney, 24, of Thomasville; and Colton Bryce Underwood, 20, of Thomasville.
Roach-Lytch faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, resisting, delaying and obstructing a public officer, and disorderly conduct. Melissa Dulaney was charged with simple affray and resisting, delaying and obstructing a public officer.
Joseph Dulaney, Sumer Dulaney and Underwood were each charged with simple affray. Police said the adults are scheduled to appear in court on November 11.
Police say petitions were filed against multiple juveniles
The Thomasville Police Department said it also filed petitions against multiple juveniles connected to the fight. One juvenile was taken into custody but later released to family, according to police.
Officials did not say how many juveniles were involved overall, but their statement made clear that both adults and minors were present during the confrontation. The department said one juvenile’s behavior helped trigger the pepper spray after repeated attempts to get back into the fight.
Police have not said whether the juvenile petitions relate to assault, disorderly conduct or other offenses. The department only said the legal process is continuing for the minors involved.
Videos on social media are under review by investigators
Police also addressed videos of the fight circulating online, saying they are aware of multiple clips shared on social media. Investigators said those recordings show only part of what happened and do not capture the entire incident from start to finish.
The department said it is reviewing body-worn camera footage, witness statements and videos collected from different sources to build a complete account of the confrontation. Officials urged the public not to draw conclusions from short clips alone because they may leave out key context.
That review will likely shape how investigators interpret the actions of everyone involved, including the officer’s decision to use pepper spray and the conduct of the people in the crowd. For now, police say the available evidence is still being assembled.
