A routine traffic detail near NC State turned chaotic Friday when a Raleigh police officer was dragged by a vehicle while directing cars at the intersection of Pullen Road and Western Boulevard, authorities said.
According to Raleigh police, the officer attempted to stop a vehicle that ignored instructions and drove through the area. As the officer tried to intervene, he was pulled and dragged before the car took off from the scene. He received medical attention roadside and was not expected to be taken to the hospital. Officials said he was not seriously hurt.
Raleigh police told CBS17 that the driver is believed to be a woman. She remains at large, and the NC State University Police Department has taken over the investigation. University police plan to file charges once the driver is identified, officials said.
Driver speeds off as detectives hunt for clues
Authorities said the vehicle left the scene before officers could detain the driver, leaving detectives to canvass the area for witnesses and surveillance video. It all unfolded along Western Boulevard, a busy multi-lane corridor that edges NC State’s campus and Pullen Park and has long fueled complaints about safety for pedestrians and cops trying to control traffic.
Axios has described the stretch as an often fast-moving “wall” that slices through Raleigh and complicates crossings for anyone on foot. In a reminder of how quickly things can go sideways there, WRAL recently reported another crash that shut down part of Western Boulevard after a traffic stop.
Possible charges and North Carolina law
Assaults on government officers in North Carolina fall under statutes that can bring either misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on whether a weapon was involved or the officer suffered serious injury, as outlined by Justia. Legal precedent allows prosecutors to pursue misdemeanor assault on an officer or seek elevated felony counts if a vehicle is treated as a weapon or the harm is more severe.
Officials said investigators will review all available video and witness statements before deciding what charges to pursue in this case.
NC State police leading the case
NC State University Police are now leading the investigation and, as Raleigh police told CBS17, expect to file charges after identifying the driver. The officer’s name has not been released, and investigators have not publicly shared additional details about the vehicle involved.
Authorities urged anyone with information about the driver or the incident to contact NC State University Police.
