Officers responding to chase cited for not wearing seat belts

Raleigh, N.C. — Two officers who crashed while responding to an Aug. 5 chase and shooting in downtown Raleigh were cited for not wearing their seat belts, a violation of department policy and state law.

The officers were chasing Renford Butler, 34, of Durham. Butler's stolen taxi eventually slammed into a white van near the intersection of Lane and Dawson streets.

Butler tried to flee, and he waved a straight razor at officers as they cornered him, police said. He was critically wounded after being shot twice by Officer J. Bloodworth.

Officer Lea Marie Younker was driving on Martin Luther King Boulevard en route to the shooting scene with lights and sirens on when a car pulled out in front of her.

James Edward Clifton, 51, of 3700 Tryon Road in Raleigh, pulled out from Grantland Drive to cross Martin Luther King Boulevard when Younker's cruiser hit his car.

Younker, Officer Andy Caruana, Clifton and his passenger were taken to WakeMed for evaluation.