If anyone is in immediate danger or needs emergency medical assistance, call 911.
Wake County Assault & Bond Information
Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
Identify the exact officer-assault charge shown on a Raleigh or Wake County custody record, verify release conditions, and determine when a licensed bondsman may help.
You may call even when the complete charge wording, booking number, officer category, or bond amount is not yet known.
Is Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer a Misdemeanor or Felony?
The answer depends on the exact charge wording, alleged injury, alleged weapon, and protected person. Small changes in the charge wording can change the classification and release procedure.
- Assault on an officer or government employee (G.S. 14-33(c)(4)): Class A1 misdemeanor
- Assault on company or campus police (G.S. 14-33(c)(8)): Class A1 misdemeanor
- Physical injury to a covered officer (G.S. 14-34.7): Class H felony
- Serious bodily injury to a covered officer (G.S. 14-34.7): Class E felony
- Deadly-weapon assault on a covered officer (G.S. 14-34.2): Class E felony
- Firearm assault on a covered officer (G.S. 14-34.5): Class D felony
The exact charge and operative release order must be reviewed. A bondsman does not publish a standard officer-assault bond amount.
For the complete assault-charge overview, review the complete assault-charge guide.
Decode the Officer-Assault Charge
Choose the entry that best matches the custody record. Abbreviations may vary among court, jail, law-enforcement, and electronic record systems. Use the full official charge wording whenever it is available.
Assault on a Government Official or Employee
A Class A1 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-33(c)(4) when the alleged victim is an officer or employee of the State or a political subdivision discharging official duties, unless another law provides greater punishment.
A/GOVT OFFICIAL/EMPLOYEE
A common custody-record abbreviation for the Class A1 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-33(c)(4). Abbreviations may vary. The complete charge wording controls.
Assault on Company Police or Campus Police
A separately listed Class A1 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-33(c)(8) when the alleged victim is a properly certified company police or campus police officer performing official duties.
Physical Injury to a Law-Enforcement Officer
A Class H felony under G.S. 14-34.7 when the record alleges an assault causing physical injury to a covered officer, probation officer, parole officer, detention employee, or National Guard member.
Serious Bodily Injury to an Officer
A Class E felony under G.S. 14-34.7 when the record alleges assault inflicting serious bodily injury on a covered law-enforcement, probation, parole, National Guard, or detention employee.
Deadly-Weapon Assault on a Government Officer
A Class E felony under G.S. 14-34.2 when the record alleges assault with a deadly weapon on a covered government officer or employee, company police officer, or campus police officer performing official duties.
Firearm Assault on an Officer or Detention Employee
A Class D felony under G.S. 14-34.5 when the record alleges assault with a firearm on a covered law-enforcement, probation, parole, National Guard, or detention-facility employee.
Resisting, Delaying, or Obstructing an Officer
A separate offense under G.S. 14-223. Not the same as assault on an officer. May appear with or without an assault charge and may have its own release condition.
Bond Has Not Been Set
Release conditions may still be pending. A bondsman cannot act until an eligible secured bond has been authorized.
“Violent Offense” Is Marked
The release order may mark the charge as a violent offense based on a qualifying Class A-through-G felony. A judicial official determines whether the statutory definition applies.
Judge Review Is Required
A judge or judicial official must determine release conditions before a commercial bond can be posted.
Electronic Monitoring or House Arrest Is Listed
Monitoring must be arranged in addition to satisfying any secured bond requirement.
One Charge Has a Bond and Another Says No Release
Each charge may have a different release condition. Posting one secured bond may not produce release when another entry remains unresolved.
Probation or Parole Action Appears
A separate supervision matter may prevent release even after an eligible bond is posted.
Another County or Agency Hold Appears
Another case, county, federal process, or agency hold may prevent release even after an eligible bond is posted.
Information to Gather
Copy every entry exactly rather than describing the arrest only as “assaulting a cop. Incomplete information should not prevent someone from calling.
Have This Ready When You Call
- Defendant's full legal name
- Date of birth
- Booking or inmate number
- Court file or case number
- Exact wording of every charge
- Every abbreviation displayed
- Statute number, when shown
- Misdemeanor or felony class shown
- Category of officer or employee listed
- Whether the person was allegedly performing official duties
- Whether physical injury is included
- Whether serious bodily injury is included
- Whether a deadly weapon is included
- Whether a firearm is included
- Current custody location
- Bond amount attached to every charge
- Bond type or release condition for every charge
- Whether “violent offense” is marked
- Whether judge review is required
- Whether electronic monitoring or house arrest is shown
- Probation, parole, resisting-officer, weapon, or other related entries
- Other warrants, counties, or agency holds
- Caller and potential cosigner information
Who Is Covered by These Charges?
Depending on the exact statute, the custody record may refer to:
Not every public employee or security worker is covered identically under every statute. Whether a person legally qualifies as a protected officer or employee is a legal question for criminal defense counsel.
Misdemeanor and Felony Officer-Assault Charges Compared
| Charge Label | Statute | Class | Injury | Weapon | Violent Offense? | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assault on Officer or Govt Employee | G.S. 14-33(c)(4) | Class A1 misdemeanor | Not required | Not required | No (misdemeanor) | Check whether official-duty language is present |
| Company/Campus Police Assault | G.S. 14-33(c)(8) | Class A1 misdemeanor | Not required | Not required | No (misdemeanor) | Confirm company or campus police certification |
| Physical Injury to Officer | G.S. 14-34.7(c) | Class H felony | Physical injury (cuts, scrapes, bruises) | Not required | Evaluate under current definition | Confirm physical injury is alleged, not serious bodily injury |
| Serious Bodily Injury to Officer | G.S. 14-34.7 | Class E felony | Serious bodily injury (statutory definition) | Not required | May qualify under violent-offense rules | Confirm serious bodily injury is included in the charge |
| Deadly-Weapon Assault on Officer | G.S. 14-34.2 | Class E felony | Not required in the charge title | Deadly weapon required | May qualify under violent-offense rules | Confirm whether a firearm charge is separately listed |
| Firearm Assault on Officer | G.S. 14-34.5 | Class D felony | Not required in the charge title | Firearm required | May qualify under violent-offense rules | Confirm the protected-person category and firearm language |
Resisting an Officer Is a Separate Charge
Resisting, delaying, or obstructing a public officer under G.S. 14-223 is a separate offense.
- It is not simply another name for assault on an officer
- It may appear with or without an assault charge
- It may have a separate release condition
- The family should copy each charge separately
- Posting one secured bond may not resolve another entry
- A bondsman cannot determine whether the alleged conduct legally constituted resistance or obstruction
Does This Officer-Assault Charge Count as a Violent Offense?
The current assault-based category in G.S. 15A-531 defines a violent offense to include qualifying Class A through G felonies involving assault, physical force, or threatened physical force as an essential element.
- The Class A1 misdemeanor does not qualify merely by itself under the Class A-through-G felony category
- The Class H physical-injury felony does not qualify merely by class under the Class A-through-G category
- The Class E serious-bodily-injury felony falls within the range and should be evaluated under the violent-offense provisions
- The Class E deadly-weapon felony falls within the range and should be evaluated under the violent-offense provisions
- The Class D firearm felony falls within the range and should be evaluated under the violent-offense provisions
Under current G.S. 15A-534(b1):
- A violent-offense charge creates a rebuttable presumption concerning release
- The judicial official decides whether release is appropriate
- If release is authorized for a first violent offense, a secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring and a secured bond is required
- Additional requirements apply to qualifying second or subsequent violent offenses
- A bondsman cannot make or bypass this determination
Bond-Status Decoder
Unsecured Bond
A commercial bondsman is generally not needed merely to satisfy that condition.
Custody Release
Release may be authorized to a designated person or organization.
Secured Bond
A licensed bondsman may be able to assist after review and approval.
House Arrest With Electronic Monitoring and Secured Bond
Monitoring must be arranged in addition to satisfying the secured bond.
Judge or Judicial-Official Review Required
The required release determination must occur before a commercial bond can be posted.
No Release Currently Authorized
A commercial bond cannot be posted unless an authorized judicial official changes the condition.
Probation or Parole Hold
A separate supervision matter may prevent release.
Outside Hold
Another court, county, federal process, or agency may prevent release.
What Happens After Arrest in Wake County?
- 1Arrest and transportation
- 2Booking and entry of every charge
- 3The protected-person category, injury or weapon allegation, criminal history, and release information are reviewed
- 4Violent-offense procedures are applied when required
- 5A judicial official determines release conditions
- 6The family verifies every bond, no-release entry, monitoring requirement, and hold
- 7A licensed bondsman reviews an eligible secured bond
- 8Approved paperwork, premium, payment, and collateral requirements are completed
- 9The bond is posted
- 10The detention facility completes release processing
A bondsman does not:
- Determine whether an assault occurred
- Decide whether the alleged victim qualifies as a protected officer
- Decide whether the officer was performing official duties
- Interpret body-camera footage
- Evaluate use of force
- Determine whether physical or serious bodily injury occurred
- Decide whether an object was a deadly weapon or firearm
- Decide whether violent-offense rules apply
- Set or reduce the bond
- Remove probation or agency holds
- Control final detention-center processing time
Why Multiple Charges May Appear
One arrest may contain separate entries involving:
Verify Every Charge Before Paying or Signing
Each charge may carry a separate release condition. Posting one secured bond may not produce release when another bond, no-release entry, probation hold, monitoring requirement, or outside hold remains unresolved.
Release Conditions
The release order may include:
- No contact with the officer or other identified person
- Stay-away restrictions involving an agency, facility, or location
- Firearm or weapon restrictions
- Electronic monitoring
- House arrest
- Travel restrictions
- Conduct restrictions
- Restrictions involving evidence or witnesses
- Other court-ordered conditions
Do not contact an officer, witness, agency employee, or alleged victim on the defendant's behalf, and do not attempt to obtain evidence or body-camera footage through personal contact.
- Only the court can modify release conditions
- A bondsman cannot authorize exceptions
- Violations can lead to arrest or revocation
- Evidence and contact questions belong with qualified criminal defense counsel
What Can Delay Bond Posting or Release?
No fixed release time should be promised.
Cost, Payment, and Collateral
Total Bond Amount
The amount established by the judicial official.
Bail Bond Premium
The applicable fee for the commercial surety bond.
Initial Premium Payment
The amount due when beginning an approved payment arrangement.
Payment Plan
An approved agreement for paying the remaining premium.
Cosigner or Indemnitor
A person accepting contractual responsibility.
Collateral
Money or property that may be required to secure the bond company's exposure.
Approval may depend on the total secured-bond amount, number and classification of charges, violent-offense findings, electronic-monitoring requirements, probation or parole status, prior court history, cosigner qualifications, residence and employment information, ability to maintain contact, collateral when applicable, and additional underwriting considerations.
For detailed affordability information, review the bail bond payment options. Payment arrangements do not reduce the court-ordered bond. Not every officer-assault bond requires collateral.
What a Bondsman Can and Cannot Do
A Licensed Bondsman May
- Help verify available custody and bond information
- Review every secured-bond entry
- Explain when an authorized bond may be posted
- Check other publicly available bonds and holds
- Explain the commercial bond process
- Review cosigner information
- Explain premium, payment, and collateral requirements
- Prepare approved bond documents
- Post an eligible secured bond
- Confirm when the bond has been submitted
- Provide bond-posting updates
A Bondsman Cannot
- Determine whether an assault occurred
- Decide whether an officer was performing an official duty
- Interpret body-camera footage
- Evaluate police conduct or use of force
- Determine whether resisting or obstruction occurred
- Decide whether physical or serious bodily injury existed
- Decide whether a weapon or firearm was used
- Advise on self-defense
- Decide whether the offense is violent under current law
- Set or reduce the bond
- Remove probation, parole, or agency holds
- Modify release conditions
- Give criminal-defense advice
- Guarantee approval, release, or a release time
- Predict the case outcome
What to Do Right Now
- Confirm the defendant's full legal name
- Copy every charge and abbreviation exactly
- Record every statute number shown
- Identify the officer or employee category listed
- Determine whether the person is in custody
- Record every bond amount and release condition
- Check whether physical injury or serious bodily injury is included
- Check whether a deadly weapon or firearm is included
- Check whether “violent offense” is marked
- Check whether judge review or electronic monitoring is pending
- Identify probation, parole, or other agency holds
- Identify other warrants, counties, or charges
- Avoid discussing alleged facts publicly or on social media
- Do not contact officers or witnesses for the defendant
- Do not retrieve, alter, or destroy possible evidence
- Contact qualified criminal defense counsel
- Contact a licensed bondsman when an eligible secured bond is available
- Prepare identification and potential cosigner information
After Release
- Read every release condition
- Confirm the next court date through an official source
- Follow every no-contact and stay-away condition
- Do not communicate indirectly through another person
- Follow firearm, property, travel, residence, and monitoring restrictions
- Do not contact officers, agency employees, or witnesses about the case
- Keep address and telephone information current
- Stay in contact with the attorney
- Notify the bondsman of address or court-date changes
- Do not assume a restriction has changed without a new court order
- Attend every required court appearance
Helpful Resources
Wake County Bail Process
How bail works in Wake County and how a secured bond is posted
Understand the Wake County Bail ProcessWake County Detention Center Information
Booking, custody, and facility release information
Check Wake County Booking and ReleaseBail Bond Payment Options
Premium, down payment, and approved payment arrangements
Review Payment OptionsSecure Online Application
Begin the secure online application when a secured bond has been authorized
Begin the Secure Online ApplicationFrequently Asked Questions
Questions About an Officer-Assault Charge?
Call Raleigh Bail Bonds with the defendant's full legal name, date of birth, current custody location, charges, file numbers, and secured bond amount if available. We can help verify the exact charge, whether violent-offense procedures apply, and whether a secured bond is currently eligible.
Last reviewed August 2026 by a licensed North Carolina bail bondsman. This page provides general information about bail and pretrial release. It does not interpret a specific release order, provide legal advice, or replace emergency safety services. Questions about protected-person status, official-duty disputes, use of force, body-camera evidence, injury classifications, weapon allegations, resistance, self-defense, and case outcomes belong with a qualified criminal defense attorney.