Deputies: Woman called 911 during sexual assault; attacker charged

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A man has been arrested after deputies said a woman called 911 while she was being sexually assaulted Sunday evening in Rowan County.

Deputies responded around 4:30 p.m. to an open field along Longs Ferry Road after 911 dispatchers said they received a call where they could hear a sex assault happening between a Spanish-speaking man and a woman.

[ALSO READ: Police release 911 calls after woman reports sex assault by suspect posing as Uber driver]

When authorities arrived, they found 44-year-old Daniel Lopez and the woman inside a silver-colored Mercury and took them to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office for questioning.

Deputies said the woman told them she met Lopez earlier that day when he allowed her to use his phone to call her friend. The woman said after calling her friend, Lopez agreed to give her a ride to her friend's house, but on the way he pulled over in a field and began pressuring her for sex.

According to the woman, when she tried to stop Lopez, he pulled out a pocket knife and put it on the dash of the car. She said he continued to touch her body and during the struggle, she was able to grab his phone and dial 911 without him noticing.

[ALSO READ: 2006 cold case rape suspect walks out of jail without having to pay bond]

The woman said Lopez continued to assault her until her he heard sirens approaching.

Lopez has been charged with kidnapping and first-degree sexual offense.

Authorities said they were able to obtain an immigration detainer on him, and he is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center under a $120,000 secured bond.

Cox Media Group