Christopher Reed was arrested after an off-duty incident at a Wake Forest restaurant that authorities said involved patrons, a manager and emergency personnel.
WAKE FOREST, NC — A Raleigh police detective was fired after being arrested on multiple assault and other charges following an off-duty disturbance early Tuesday at a Wake Forest restaurant, according to police.
Christopher Andre Reed, 32, was arrested after Wake Forest police responded shortly after 2:15 a.m. Oct. 6 to the Carolina Ale House on Northpark Drive. Authorities said the incident began after the restaurant manager asked Reed to leave because of disruptive behavior. Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce later confirmed Reed had been terminated from the department, which also plans an internal affairs review of the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Wake Forest police said employees and customers had been bothered by Reed before the manager asked him to leave. As Reed was leaving, police allege he tried to strike two patrons on separate occasions and assaulted the restaurant manager. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Officers did not find Reed at the restaurant when they arrived. Police said they later located him walking along Capital Boulevard, also known as U.S. 1. Authorities said Reed had cuts and abrasions after attempting to climb over a barbed-wire fence and refused to comply with an officer’s instructions.
Emergency medical personnel were called to provide treatment. Police allege Reed then assaulted a Wake County emergency medical technician. Arrest warrants reviewed by local news organizations allege Reed kicked the paramedic. Authorities also accused Reed of assaulting a law enforcement officer during the encounter.
Wake Forest police charged Reed with assault causing physical injury to emergency personnel, resisting a public officer, intoxicated and disruptive conduct, disorderly conduct, simple assault and assault on a government official. Raleigh police described one of the charges as assault on a law enforcement officer. Reed was taken to the Wake County Detention Center after his arrest.
WRAL reported that Reed had worked for the Raleigh Police Department since July 2016. The station reported Tuesday that Reed was being held on a $20,000 bond and had a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Those charges remain allegations, and Reed is entitled to have the case decided through the judicial process.
Boyce said Raleigh police employees are expected to meet high standards of conduct both while working and while off duty. He said the department needed to respond quickly and transparently when those standards were not met. Boyce also stressed that the allegations against one employee did not represent the department as a whole.
Boyce said Reed’s criminal case would proceed through the courts while the Raleigh Police Department conducts its own internal affairs review. The department’s Internal Affairs Unit is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct or criminal conduct involving department employees. Reed’s termination does not determine whether he is guilty of the criminal charges filed against him.
Carolina Ale House said it was cooperating with investigators and was in the process of providing camera footage related to the incident, according to ABC11. The restaurant said the safety of employees and customers was a priority. Authorities had not announced the outcome of the criminal case or the Raleigh Police Department’s internal review as of early Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated October 7, 2026.