Inmate Accused Of Biting Detention Officer

JOHNSTON COUNTY — A man accused of firing a shotgun at a motorist and leading deputies on a two-county chase in September is now facing additional charges after authorities say he bit a detention officer inside the Johnston County Detention Center.

Murad Terrall Taylor, 38, of Garner, was arrested Sept. 5 following a pursuit that began on Veteran’s Parkway (NC 42 West). A woman reported a man was staring at her as she left a motel near I-40. Deputies said Taylor followed the woman, then fired a shotgun at her vehicle near the NC 50 intersection, striking the passenger-side door. She pulled into a nearby store and called 911.

Deputies later spotted Taylor’s black Nissan Rogue on Cornwallis Road and attempted a traffic stop. He allegedly fled, leading officers onto Interstate 40 and into Wake County before crashing into another vehicle and a parked tractor-trailer on Jones Sausage Road.

Taylor was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest, possession of a firearm by a felon, discharging a weapon into occupied property, resisting a public officer, and multiple traffic offenses. His vehicle was seized under North Carolina’s Run and Done law. No injuries were reported in the initial incident.

Taylor was still being held in the Johnston County Detention Center awaiting trial on the September charges when the alleged assault took place on Nov. 28.

New Jailhouse Charge

On Nov. 28, while being held at the Johnston County Detention Center, a detention officer attempted to move Taylor to lockdown. According to the sheriff’s office, Taylor refused, and staff attempted to place him in a restraint chair during which he allegedly bit a detention officer on the arm.

Taylor was served with a warrant on Dec. 5 charging him with felony assault causing physical injury on a detention employee.