Sheriff's deputy injured while breaking up fight

Sheriff Pat Green said the 61-year-old deputy suffered a severe head injury while trying to break up a fight Saturday at the Citgo gas station, at 611 N Bickett Blvd., near U.S. Highway 401, in Louisburg.

Louisburg police on Sunday charged Joe Williams, 24, of 168 Chicken Hollow Way in Henderson, with assault inflicting serious injury on a law enforcement officer.

“I didn't do it. I didn't put my hand on nobody. I don't know how they're charging me with this,” Joe Willliams told WRAL News Sunday afternoon.

Janika Montia Williams, 18, and Patrick Xavier Davis, 20, were fighting Saturday at the Citgo when two police officers arrived, according to Louisburg Police Capt. Jason Abbott.

Joe Williams attacked the officers as they tried to break up the altercation, Abbott said. That was when Williamson, who arrived as back up, tried to help the two officers out and was assaulted.

Joe Williams was arrested in connection with the fight, but Abbott said it was not immediately clear whether he directly attacked Williamson.

Janika Williams, Joe Williams and Davis were all charged with disorderly conduct, Abbott said. Janika Williams was also charged with resisting arrest, while Joe Williams and Davis were charged with failure to disperse.

They were being held Sunday in the Franklin County jail. Joe Williams' bond was set at $150,000. Bond amounts were not available for Janika Williams and Davis.

Abbott said Janika and Joe Williams are brother and sister and live together.  Davis, of 5370 Taylor Gin Road in Castalia, is their cousin.  It was not yet known what the fight was about.

Williamson, who was a couple months away from retirement, was being treated Sunday in the intensive care unit at Duke University Hospital, Green said.

“Why this would happen to such a beloved officer, a good man?” Green said. “It’s a different environment for law enforcement officers out there this day in time. It’s not like it was five years ago."