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Radio traffic in trooper shooting: 'I've been shot in the face'

North Carolina State Highway Patrol radio traffic released Wednesday captures the desperation of a trooper who was shot four times during a traffic stop in Durham last month and the all-out search to find the suspect, Mikel Edward Brady.

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DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina State Highway Patrol radio traffic released Wednesday captures the desperation of a trooper who was shot four times during a traffic stop in Durham last month and the all-out search to find the suspect.

Seriously injured, Trooper Michael L. Potts sent out a distressed call over his radio. "Signal 25, signal 25," he said – code for "officer needs help."

"Hurry up," he said. "I've been shot in the face."

Authorities say Potts had stopped Mikel Edward Brady, 23, for a seatbelt violation on U.S. Highway 70 on Feb. 18 when Brady shot him at an "extraordinarily close range" in both of his hands, his right shoulder and the right side of his face.

He sent out a description of Brady on the radio, alerting troopers and other law enforcement officers across the area to be on the look out.

"The description on the car is a black Nissan, 30-day tags," Potts said. "White male, short blond hair."

The search for Brady led authorities to a Mexican restaurant on North Roxboro Street, where they discovered his car hours after the shooting, and a Raleigh apartment complex, where he was arrested the following day.

Brady faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Potts was taken to Duke University Hospital and released three days later.

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