Local News

Arrested Assistant Coach Files Complaint Against Raleigh PD

An attorney for one of North Carolina State University's men's basketball coaches filed a complaint Thursday against the Raleigh Police Department.

Posted — Updated

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.

RALEIGH, N.C. — An attorney for one of North Carolina State University's men's basketball coaches filed a complaint Thursday against the Raleigh Police Department.

The complaint accuses officer R. W. King of assault, excessive force, conduct unbecoming an officer and poor judgment in connection with the arrest of Saint Lawrence "Larry" Harris.

Harris, 51, was arrested shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday after he was pulled over for traveling 41 mph in a 25 mph zone in the 800 block of West Morgan Street.

According to police, Harris declined to comply with several requests and instructions from the officer, and the officer eventually arrested Harris on a charge of resisting/obstructing a public officer. Raleigh police said the officer used pepper spray when Harris would not comply.

Harris' attorney, Lee Turner Jr., would not talk specifically about Harris's account of the arrest, but said it does not come close to what police said occurred.

"He wants to see justice done, and he wants to see this not happen to any other citizen of the city again, like it happened to him," Turner said.

WRAL was told that Harris was out of town on a recruiting trip Thursday and was unavailable for comment. N.C. State had no comment on the arrest.

Raleigh police said they will investigate the use of force, but will not comment on the complaint filed, saying it is a personnel matter.

Harris, who was also issued a citation for the speeding violation, was released from jail at 11 p.m. after posting $1,500 bail.

Harris has spent the past 10 years as an assistant coach on the N.C. State staff, including serving as associate head coach last season, according to the university's Web site.

 

Suggest A Correction

• Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.