ECU Attempted Strangulation

By Arthur Mondale
Reporter
Published: August 27, 2008

ECU students are still on edge after a female student was attacked at her dorm on campus.
ECU police arrested 27-year-old Michael Mewborn for attacking a woman at Fletcher Dorm at 2am Wednesday morning
ECU freshman Mike Rose was simply watching tv and taking a break from studying, “Procrastinating not reading my English book which I should have done earlier but obviously I was there for a reason.”
But police say he and a female student would soon be interrupted by 27-year-old Michael Mewborn.
“We heard someone banging on the doors right here…She went just to open the door for him. She opened the door for him and went to the bathroom,” Rose said.
According to Rose he saw Mewborn attempt to take the elevator then turn toward the bathroom door, that’s when he got the attention of two separate strangers outside--one to call police--the other to help in the attack.
“The other guy grabbed him from behind and slammed him on the ground, he tried to get up, we kicked him some more,” Rose said.  “We did what we had to do to keep him down basically.”
ECU Police Chief Scott Shelton says Mewborn appeared under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.
He also says the incident is the first assault of it’s nature because it happened between two complete strangers which he says is very uncommon.
But Rose says he doesn’t take any credit, “I don’t want anything for it, as long as she’s safe I’m good.”
Mewborn is in jail under a $750,000 bond. Police charged him with intent to kill, kidnapping and trespassing.