Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

2:00 p.m. • 5-21-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Wed: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 84° F
  • Thu: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 80° F
  • Fri: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 76° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Published: 2007-09-06 11:03:00
Updated: 2007-09-06 18:58:01

Officer, Paramedic Charged in Break-In


print friendly

A Goldsboro police officer and a Wayne County paramedic were arrested late Wednesday in connection with a break-in and assault in Lenoir County, authorities said.

A LaGrange teen told authorities that Rusty Herring and Jason Gray forced their way into his home at 3719 Lindsey Lane shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday and attacked him and a friend. The teen told police Gray hit him in the head with a beer bottle.

"The dude shoved me and I asked him to leave, and he shoved me again. So, I hit him in the face," 16-year-old Justin Eubanks said.

Authorities said several people ended up in the fight, including Eubanks' 16-year-old friend, Michael Beeson and Beeson's stepfather, who had to receive stitches after head-butting one of the men.

"I got a couple of scratches," Michael Beeson said. "I got bit."

Herring, 36, of Hunter Street Drive in Goldsboro, was charged with misdemeanor breaking-and-entering and two counts of simple assault, Police Chief Tim Bell said.

The three-and-a-half year veteran of the Goldsboro Police Department was off-duty at the time of the incident, Bell said.

Herring was off the force by Thursday afternoon, but police declined to say whether he resigned or was fired.

Gray, 24, of 509 Mark Edwards Road in LaGrange, was charged with misdemeanor breaking-and-entering, simple assault and assault with a deadly weapon.

Gray resigned as a paramedic with Wayne County Emergency Medical Services early Thursday, authorities said. He had been a county paramedic for nearly five years.

Herring and Gray were released on bond Thursday. Neither could be reached for comment.

Police said the alleged assault escalated from an earlier argument on the telephone.

Eubanks said Herring had a relationship with his mother that went sour, and he told Herring to stop calling her.

"He said, 'I'm going to beat you just like I'm going to beat your momma,'" Eubanks said. "He should have known better than to come up to a house where to teenagers are to react the way he did."


35 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments VIEW ALL 35 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments
"Eubanks said Herring had a relationship with his mother that went sour"

Yeah, those "close relationships" don't work in West Virginia either. One should never have a relationship like that with his mother.

It would be nice to have other side of the story published. All we have is the accusers account of what happend. Sounds like typical trailor trash bull &%$@ if you ask me. What this article doesn't tell is how the two did not force their way in, they were let inside by the woman. Also, Herring was initially beat unconscious. Mr. Gray was just trying to defend Mr. Herring. How low must you go to keep beating on someone while they are laying on the ground unconscious and unable to defend themself? Think your the victims Eubanks and Beeson? Give me a break. You know what happend. So do I. Justice will prevail. I hope you get charged with making false accusations and Herring and Gray sue you for defamation of character and medical expenses. It wouldn't matter anyway, you probably don't have a job.

I know these kinds of things are not limited to Wayne County. As a former resident of Wayne County, I've seen this kind of childish behavior from idiots on more than one occasion (mostly from my ex-husband and his group of childish friends)

Is it the heat or are the crimes just getting crazier...what ever happened to late night shootings between 2 people??? Do you get a discount if you get someone to go to jail with ya??

Love my boys-

Do you really think these kind of things are limited to Wayne County?

View Comments VIEW ALL 35 COMMENTS