Man arrested in Whiteville police officer hit and run

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — Police have arrested the suspect accused of running over a Whiteville police officer outside of a school early Wednesday morning.

It happened around 7:30 a.m. in front of Whiteville Central Middle School.

Police say School Resource Officer Paul Carrano saw a car driving in the wrong direction on South Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Police say Carrano, wearing a traffic vest, stepped out of his patrol car and motioned for the driver to stop.

According to witnesses, the driver sped up and struck Carrano with his right front headlight. Investigators say Carrano rolled onto the hood, fell off and his left wrist was struck by the car’s passenger side mirror.

The driver sped off.

Police arrested the driver, Eustance Hunter, 30.

Hunter is charged with the following:

• Assault with a deadly weapon on a government official
• Felony hit and run
• Driving while license revoked

Police say Hunter was operating the vehicle with no insurance and an expired registration. He is being held at the Columbus County Jail on a $52,500 bond.

Police say Carrano was treated and released from Columbus Regional Hospital, but suffered bruising to his right wrist.