A Durham assistant police chief was cited over the weekend after he sideswiped a vehicle and left the scene.
Raul Garcia, a Durham assistant police chief, was cited for hit-and-run, leaving the scene, failing to report an accident and failing to maintain lane control. He was cited by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
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The Highway Patrol officer investigating the crash was able to track Garcia down at his home Saturday in Apex.
The incident happened Friday on NC 540 near Apex in Wake County. Garcia was driving a City of Durham vehicle.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams told WRAL that Garcia was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol after an incident like this. Burns Shaver, a Durham resident, said there "definitely" needed to be an investigation.
"[That's] obviously now who we want patrolling our streets," Shaver said.
WRAL News knocked on the door of an address believed to be Garcia's, but no one answered the door. WRAL News also asked the Durham Police Department the following questions:
- Was Garcia being paid while he is on leave?
- Will Garcia be responsible for paying for the damage to a city vehicle if he's found responsible?
In response to these questions, Durham police said they are "aware of the allegations." WRAL News also reached to the owner of the car Garcia allegedly hit, and did not hear back.