Two women arrested after assault in Whiteville

Niakea Thomas (left) and Dahquaisha Rasberry (right) (Photo: Bladen County Sheriff’s Office)

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Sheriff James A. McVicker announced today the arrest of two women wanted in the June 26th assault of Elizabeth Harris, 29, of Whiteville.

According to a press release, Harris was assaulted as she attempted to protect the 7 year old child of her fiancé, Angelo Adams, 26 of Tina’s Lane in Clarkton.

Arrested were Niakea Thomas and Dahquaisha Rasberry, both of Greensboro.

The assault occurred on Sunday afternoon on  June 26th when the father of the minor child left his home to go to the store with his mother, leaving the minor child at his residence with his fiancé, Ms. Harris and his younger brother, Anthony.

Shortly after Adams left, Anthony heard a knock at the door and when he opened the door the child’s mother, Niakea was standing there.

Anthony closed the door and went to the back of the house to alert Ms. Harris.

Thomas took the opportunity to enter the house and grab the child and force her outside into a waiting car.

Ms. Harris came out of the house and in an attempt to grab the child, she leaned into the open passenger side window.

She was grabbed by Thomas and the driver of the car, Rasberry, and was repeatedly hit in the head with fists while they drove away.

Harris was then sprayed in the face with pepper spray which also came in contact with the minor and another minor in the car.

She was dragged down highway 211 for two tenths of a mile before she was released.

Harris sustained major injuries due to being dragged and run over by the car.

Her ribs were broken in multiple places and she sustained a punctured lung along with numerous other internal and external injuries to include broken hips and abrasions.

Harris spent almost two weeks in the hospital and underwent surgery to repair the damage to her body.

The two suspects went into hiding and the mother, Niakea Thomas was located in Rocky Mount with the child.

She was arrested by U.S. Marshalls on Friday, July 8th and charged with Assault With a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury With Intent To Kill.

She was returned to Bladen County under a $100,000 bond.

Dahquaisha Rasberry was located hiding out in a hotel in Greensboro and arrested by the Marshalls on Monday, July 11th.

Rasberry was also brought back to Bladen under a $250,000 bond facing the same charge.

The minor child was reunited with her father last Friday. She had been living with her father for the past six years.

“I am sure there will be additional charges in this case,” said Sheriff McVicker. “My Investigator, as well as the US Marshalls worked tirelessly to locate the child and bring these two to justice. I am glad we were able to rescue the child and the victim is now home and recovering from her injuries. She has a long road to recovery but has the support of her family. Ms. Harris is a very brave woman.”