In court, Durham man accused of trying to strangle officer after car crash
A man accused of assaulting a Durham police officer and chaplain after a car crash appeared in court Monday.
Demario Holman, 35 of Durham, is facing numerous charges after police said he attacked an officer on Friday during an attempted traffic stop. His charges include:
- Assault on a law enforcement officer with serious injury
- Assault by strangulation
- Assault inflicting serious injury
- Possession of firearm by felon
- Possess weapon of mass destruction
- Felony possession of marijuana
- Felony flee to elude
- Carrying concealed gun
- Resist public officer
Court records identify the officer as J.T. Rose, and the chaplain as Scott Wilkos.
Papers indicate Holman tried to strangle Rose and bit through Wilkos' hand.
Holman is being held inside the Durham County Jail on a $400,000 bond.
A family friend of his told WRAL News in court Monday Holman is responsible for two children and asked for a lower bond, which was not granted.
Holman's next court date will be Nov. 13.
Durham police said Rose on Friday tried to stop a car near the intersection of West Cornwallis Road and U.S. 15-501 after seeing it travel at a "high rate of speed."
The vehicle got away from the attempted traffic stop at speeds of more than 100 mph, police said.
The officer did not attempt to pursue the car, but located it crashed a short time later near the exit ramp from U.S. 15-501 to West Cornwallis Road.
According to the police, the officer approached the car when the driver "became assaultive and attacked the officer, and attempted to render the officer unconscious."
Police said Wilcose, an emergency chaplain riding with the officer, intervened. Holman was eventually taken into custody.
Authorities took both the officer and the chaplain to the hospital for treatment. Police found a rifle and marijuana in the car.
WRAL News spoke with former deputy chief Larry Smith about why a simple traffic stop can be as dangerous as responding to a violent crime scene for an officer.
"They have a general idea of what they're walking into," Smith said. "In a traffic stop, and particular if it's one for a minor traffic violation, they really don't know what they're walking into."
