Orange county man facing several charges after NC deputies seriously injured

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Jorge Luis Lopez-Duran, a 53-year-old man from Hillsborough, made his initial court appearance on Friday after allegedly injuring three Orange County deputies while they attempted to arrest him. He faces four charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer, and is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.

The incident took a violent turn, with Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood stating that the bites inflicted by Lopez-Duran were particularly severe. The deputies sustained injuries, including serious bite marks on their hands, with one deputy suffering significant facial injuries. Blackwood noted that Lopez-Duran was under the influence of methamphetamine, which contributed to his extreme strength and high pain tolerance during the altercation.

Sheriff Blackwood revealed that deputies attempted to use a taser on Lopez-Duran twice, but it was largely ineffective. He emphasized that the situation didn't warrant the use of deadly force by law enforcement, as it was not believed that deadly force was being used against them. The close quarters, with officers present, complicated the decision-making process regarding the use of more severe measures.

The challenges related to mental health crises in such situations were also highlighted by Blackwood. While Orange County has a mental health response team, he acknowledged that these resources would not have been practical in Lopez-Duran's case, as crisis counselors lack the authority, training, and tools necessary to take individuals into custody during volatile incidents.

Lopez-Duran is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday, April 21, as authorities continue to assess the implications of the incident and the broader issues related to mental health response mechanisms in emergency situations.