Durham anti-violence worker accused of leading deputies on chase, throwing cocaine from car
A man employed by Durham County to reduce violence is now accused of being a perpetrator of it. Jacobey Gooch, 41, was arrested March 30 in Craven County near New Bern after deputies there say he led them on a chase, tried to assault officers, and threw drugs from his car.
WRAL Investigates has learned Gooch is an outreach worker for Bull City United, a group funded by taxpayer dollars, aimed to prevent violent crime. A County spokesperson confirmed Friday he remained employed with BCU, where he has been working since September 2022.
According to information from the Craven County Sheriff's Office, deputies tried to pull over Gooch's car when he was clocked at a speed greater than 95 mph in a 70 mph zone. They say Gooch then led deputies on a chase, which included going the wrong way on multiple highways, "nearly striking several on-coming vehicles."
During the pursuit, deputies say Gooch threw a bag of drugs out the window, which a K-9 later found and was determined to be 64 grams of cocaine.
A news release states: "The subject attempted to utilize their vehicle to strike law enforcement vehicles but was unsuccessful in making contact with any of the vehicles involved in the pursuit," before ultimately stopping and being taken into custody. A search of the vehicle yielded "several items of drug paraphernalia and a large amount of cash consistent with narcotics distribution."
Gooch remains in the Craven County jail with a $3 million bond, charged with 23 crimes including felony trafficking in cocaine and felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle.
A passenger in the vehicle was charged with six crimes including felony trafficking in cocaine.
In recent years, WRAL has reported on multiple members of BCU being charged for gun and drug-related offenses.
BCU is known for employing people described as "credible messengers," who have a history of gang affiliation and/or criminal histories. The group started in Durham in 2016 and has received increasing support from City and County leaders. WRAL reported last year that City Council and County Commissioners voted to each allot roughly one million dollars to the group.
In 2022, County Commissioners voted to spend $6 million on buying a new building for the group, and others, with similar missions.
WRAL Investigates contacted every member of the County Commissioners and City Council for comment on this latest incident, and to inquire if each thinks the group is effective, and if it should continue to receive taxpayer funding.
In an interview, Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton said he remains supportive of the program, while acknowledging it may need more oversight and more vetting of employees.
"I think we have to differentiate between the philosophical viability of violence interruption and specific cases of individuals," he said. "For example, over my years of service in Durham, I’ve encountered officers who have acted outside of the law. It never occurred to me to disband the police department. It occurred to me to get rid of the bad actors."
Durham Mayor Leo Williams referred us to the County, saying he, too, would like to hear from them, as they oversee the Bull City United program.
WRAL also reached out to Community Intervention and Support Services Director Krystal Harris, as the BCU program falls under her leadership. She declined to comment.
Through a County spokesperson, the County Manager also declined to comment. A spokesperson declined to immediately say if Gooch was on leave at this time. WRAL has filed a public records request for that information.
