A Durham police officer is under scrutiny following allegations of assaulting an individual while performing his duties.
The claim was made on August 21. Rayshawn Taylor stepped down from his position with the Durham Police Department the following day.
A thorough internal investigation revealed sufficient evidence, prompting law enforcement to forward the case to the Durham County District Attorney’s Office for potential criminal charges. Due to Taylor’s purported official role during the time of the alleged offenses, the DPD requested support from both state and federal investigative agencies.
On Monday, Taylor faced serious charges including first-degree kidnapping, sexual servitude, and sexual battery. A man was taken into custody in Mebane, prompting investigators to conduct a search of his residence.
“We believe in accountability,” said Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews. “We are here as guardians of our community.”
WRAL News inquired with Andrews about whether Taylor’s arrest casts doubt on any of his previous work. Andrews emphasized that her department maintains complete openness with the Durham County District Attorney’s Office.
“When we have an investigation where an officer’s integrity could potentially be in question, we will notify the district attorney’s office of that investigation, and the district attorney’s office will then go in and look at the cases and find out which cases that officer was affiliated with and make those decisions,” Andrews said.
If you have any further details regarding this case or think you may have been a victim of misconduct by Taylor, please reach out to Corporal I. Harton at the Durham Police Department Special Victims Unit by calling 919-560-4440 ext. 29332.