2 Durham police officers attacked after crowd formed during arrest of woman

DURHAM, NC (WNCN) — Two Durham officers were injured in an attack after a crowd formed during the arrest of a woman Sunday night, police said.

The incident began when police responded to a call about a theft from a business in the 100 block of West Cornwallis Road just before 10:30 p.m., according to a Durham police news release.

When officers arrived, they found the suspect, a woman. Police attempted to arrest the woman, but she ran north along West Cornwallis Road, the news release said.

The police then pursued the woman and ran after her.

“The foot pursuit continued until the suspect crashed in the 200 block of West Cornwallis Road,” officers said in the release. The woman was then handcuffed by police.

But at that point, “a crowd began to form,” officials said.

A member of the crowd punched one of the officers in the head and bit him on the arm. A second officer was also hit in the head.

Keyontae Ragland, 22, was arrested in connection with the attack on both officers, police said.

Ragland and the woman suspected of theft were both taken to a nearby hospital for examination.

Ragland was charged with assault on a police officer, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

After Ragland was released from the hospital, he was taken to the Durham County Jail without bail. Charges against the female suspect are pending.