Fundraiser helps shot state trooper with medical bills

Ten percent of the day’s sales were donated to help Michael Potts, an 11-year veteran of the North Carolina Highway Patrol who is still recovering after being shot four times during a Feb. 18 traffic stop.

“With somebody like Trooper Potts, he put his life on the line every day when he went to work. Not many of us do that,” said Troy Harrington, co-owner of the Pizza Inn on North Duke Street.

Mikel Brady, 23, of Vermont, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury in connection with the shooting, which happened along U.S. Highway 70 in Durham. Potts was shot in the face, both hands and shoulder.

Trooper Jeff Pleasants remembered hearing the call on the radio.

“It sends chills down your spine because you don’t know what you’re going to find until you get there,” he said.

Still, he told WRAL News that he is still having trouble with his hearing and there’s a “continuous ringing" in his ear.

He seeing doctors, and the medical bills are adding up.

That’s why so many showed up at the restaurant today to help. Pizza Inn also collected donations at the door until closing. A total of $300 was raised by the end of lunch.

“Law enforcement takes care of each other,” Pleasants said. “It’s like one big family. It doesn’t matter what color the uniform.”