Assistant chief cited after NC 540 incident; department opens administrative review
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol cited a Durham assistant police chief over the weekend after he sideswiped another vehicle on NC 540 in Wake County and left the scene, authorities said. The incident occurred Friday near Apex; the suspect, identified as Raul Garcia, was located at his home Saturday by the Highway Patrol and issued citations.
Garcia, who serves as an assistant chief with the Durham Police Department, was cited for hit-and-run, leaving the scene, failing to report an accident and failing to maintain lane control, according to the Highway Patrol. Reports indicate he was driving a City of Durham vehicle at the time of the crash.
“[That’s] obviously now who we want patrolling our streets,”
The comment came from Durham resident Burns Shaver, who told reporters there should be an investigation. Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams confirmed to reporters that Garcia was placed on paid administrative leave, calling that action standard protocol after an incident of this kind.
What officials say and what remains unresolved
Durham police told reporters they are “aware of the allegations.” The Highway Patrol led the traffic investigation and completed the on-scene work that produced the citations. WRAL reported that attempts to reach Garcia at a listed address went unanswered, and the owner of the other vehicle allegedly struck did not respond to requests for comment.
Questions posed to the Durham Police Department included whether Garcia would be paid while on leave and whether he would be responsible for any damage to the city vehicle if found at fault. The department’s publicly released response was limited to acknowledging awareness of the allegations; it did not provide details on pay status beyond confirming the leave is paid or on financial responsibility pending the outcome of any internal or criminal processes.
Local implications and next steps
The case raises governance and transparency issues for Durham residents: how the city responds to alleged misconduct by senior officers, how investigations are conducted when municipal vehicles are involved, and how information is shared with the public. Administrative leave for law enforcement personnel is commonly used during pending investigations to separate the employee from their duties while reviews proceed; Mayor Williams characterized the leave in this case as standard protocol.
- Immediate status: Garcia cited by state troopers; placed on paid administrative leave.
- Location: Crash on NC 540 near Apex, Wake County; Garcia located at his Apex home Saturday.
- Vehicle: City of Durham vehicle alleged to have been involved.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Officer | Raul Garcia, assistant chief, Durham Police Department |
| Charges cited | Hit-and-run; leaving the scene; failing to report an accident; failing to maintain lane control |
| Incident location | NC 540 near Apex, Wake County |
| Vehicle | City of Durham vehicle |
| Administrative action | Paid administrative leave |
Durham residents and city officials now await the outcomes of both the Highway Patrol’s traffic citations and any internal administrative inquiry by the Durham Police Department. The city has not released a timeline for the internal review or whether additional discipline or criminal filings could follow depending on investigative findings.
For residents, the case underscores questions about accountability for senior members of the police force and how municipal resources are used. Community members and city leaders may press for more detailed information as the investigations proceed, including whether the owner of the allegedly struck vehicle will pursue civil recovery for damages and whether the City of Durham will seek restitution for repairs to the municipal vehicle if Garcia is found responsible.
WE NEWS will follow this developing story and report additional details as they become available from the Highway Patrol, the Durham Police Department and city officials.
