Man Charged with Assaulting Cops, Cocaine Possession

0:00A Durham man named Damien Charles Awkward is facing seven serious charges after allegedly trying to drag two carry police officers with his car. The big ones include two counts of assaulting a government official with a deadly weapon, plus felony cocaine possession resisting an officer and misdemeanor marijuana possession. This all went down Tuesday on Highway 55 when Awkward was behind the wheel of a 2023 Toyota Corolla. Officers pulled him over and things escalated fast during the stop. One officer described in court papers how Awkward tried to shift into drive while the cop was reaching inside to get him out, putting both officers at risk. No major injuries reported, but it was a close call that highlights the dangers cops face on routine calls. We haven't heard back from Awkward or aside yet, and details are still coming out through the warrants. The community is watching closely as these cases often spark debates on police encounters and street-level crimes. He has the first court appearance today at 1.30pm in Wake County Court, so stay tuned

1:04for updates as this unfolds. That's your Durham News Today update, AI-powered, and always on.