K.P. Parks tasered in scuffle with highway patrolman

A 2009 photograph of K.P. Parks while playing for West Rowan High School.

West Rowan held a signing party for five of their football players in the library. Kevin Parks and Sherry Parks watch as their son, K.P. Parks, signs to go to Virginia. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

By Jessie Burchette

jburchette@salisburypost.com

The state’s best running back in history ran into problems in Mocksville Saturday night, getting stunned by a Taser after a traffic stop by an off-duty Highway Patrol trooper.

K.P. Parks who led West Rowan High School to a 3A state championship, was charged with resist, delay and obstruct by the Davie County Sheriff’s Office  Saturday night. He was also charged with two traffic violations by the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Parks went to the Davie County Hospital, at his request to be checked out.

The incident apparently started several miles outside of Mocksville when an off-duty  Highway Patrolman and his wife were riding north on U.S. 601 on a motorcycle.

Sgt. Jorge Brewer of the Raleigh office, said Trooper M. C.  Howell reported that a vehicle came up behind him  “at a very close proximity — unreasonably close.”

The vehicle then passed the  Trooper’s motorcycle in a no passing zone.

Over the next few miles, Howell reported observing the vehicle weaving  within the northbound lane and following too closely.

Howell continued to follow the vehicle to Scenic Drive where it turned into a private drive. and stopped.

Howell’s wife had called  communications and asked for assistance.

A patrolman and a Davie County deputy were dispatched

Sgt. Jorge said the trooper identified himself and showed Parks his badge.

Howell described Parks  behavior as erratic, saying Parks told the trooper he couldn’t  do anything  out of uniform.

According to the Patrol spokesman, the scuffle and taser incident occurred as Howell was assisting the deputy in trying to handcuff Parks.

Chief Deputy J. D Hartman of the Davie County Sheriff’s Office said today the incident started with the N.C. Highway Patrol stopping  a vehicle driven by Parks around  9:15 p.m. at the intersection of Scenic Drive and Pleasant Drive — about a block from the Davie County Detention Center.

According to the report by the deputy, Trooper Howell advised Parks that he was going to take him into custody.

At that point, Parks reportedly resisted with Parks and Howell engaged in a fight.

Hartman said the deputy took the cartridge out of the Taser and fired a dry-stun ( a reduced charge) into Parks thigh.

When he continued to resist, the deputy discharged the Taser again.

At that point two or three other Highway Patrolmen arrived on the scene and assisted in subduing Parks according to Hartman.

He said Parks was not jailed. He went to the hospital where he was treated and released.

The Highway Patrol charged Parks with following too close and improper passing.

Sgt. Jorge said alcohol was suspected, but no charge was filed.  He said the decision to make that charge would have been up to the Davie Sheriff’s Department.

A Davie County magistrate went to the hospital . Parks was released to his parents on an unsecured bond.

Sgt. Jorge  defended the actions of the Patrol, saying he  is “absolutely confident and comfortable,” with the actions of Trooper Howell.

He noted Troopers are law enforcement officers 24 hours a day.

  Parks’s mother, Sherry,  said late Monday, she couldn’t  comment until the family consults with their attorney.

Parks, considered one of the top running backs in the country, signed to attend the University of Virginia.

Parks was the Old Spice National Player of the Year in 2009.

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