Robeson County: Charlotte man charged after deputies say his car hit a deputy at illegal drifting event

A Charlotte man was charged Saturday after the Robeson County Sheriff's Office said his vehicle struck a deputy and a patrol car while deputies were shutting down an illegal drifting event at Thunder Valley Speedway, WPDE reported. The Robesonian independently carried that office account on Sunday and wrote that the property sits near Red Springs.

Terell Harper, 21, was charged with misdemeanor assault on a government official and injury to personal property, the sheriff's office said. He was released on a $2,000 unsecured bond, and deputies seized his vehicle. The newspaper wrote that he was taken before a magistrate.

Charges are accusations. Everyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. We have not found a public statement from Harper or from a lawyer for him.

What the release describes

Deputies went to the speedway several times Saturday after reports that vehicles taking part in the drifting event had struck people attending it, the sheriff's office said. Officials decided to shut the event down because of safety concerns and so emergency crews could respond.

As deputies cleared the property, attendees refused to leave, and several vehicles surrounded a deputy and his patrol car, according to the sheriff's office. Harper's vehicle struck the deputy and the patrol car while maneuvering around them, the office said.

The crowd also damaged a second patrol vehicle. Deputies used PepperBall launchers to break up the crowd after attendees threatened deputies and interfered with their work, the sheriff's office said.

That is the sheriff's office's account of an open investigation.

What we don't know yet

The sheriff's office did not say whether the deputy was hurt. It also did not give details on injuries to people at the event. WPDE wrote Thunder Valley Speedway and did not name a town. The Robesonian wrote Thunder Valley Raceway near Red Springs. We have not read a street address in the release.

Background

A similar event at the same property was shut down in February after injuries and safety concerns, the sheriff's office said. The office also plans to ask North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement for help starting a nuisance abatement process against the property.

Timeline

• February 2026: Deputies shut down a similar event at the property after injuries and safety concerns (Robeson County Sheriff's Office, via WPDE).
• Saturday, Oct. 24: Deputies respond several times, then shut the gathering down. The office says Harper's vehicle strikes a deputy and a patrol car, and he is arrested and charged (Robeson County Sheriff's Office, via WPDE and The Robesonian).
• Sunday, Oct. 25: The Robesonian publishes the same office account and uses a Red Springs dateline.

What happens next

Investigators are reviewing body camera footage and social media videos, and more arrests are expected, the sheriff's office said. Anyone with information can call the Robeson County Sheriff's Office at 910-671-3100. We will update this story if the sheriff's office releases the deputy's condition, more arrests or court dates. This story is not an official or emergency notice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Photos

Text-only. No official agency photo was released with this story.