Man accused of cutting, biting officer appears in court

DURHAM, N.C. — A Durham District Court judge on Monday increased bond for a man accused of trying to expose two police officers to what the judge called a "potentially deadly condition."

Prosecutors said James Perry, 49, of 714 Shepherd St., in Durham, cut one officer's right thumb and tried to bite another's ear while Perry was bleeding.

Neither prosecutors nor Judge William Marsh III referred to Perry's condition by name during open court Monday, but prosecutors referred to it as a known illness.

Arrest warrants on charges of assault inflicting serious bodily injury and assault with a deadly weapon indicates Perry is HIV positive. The warrants list the weapon as Perry's head and teeth.

At the time of Perry's arrest on Saturday, police were investigating a report that he allegedly broke a window and took another man's car without permission, prosecutors said. They charged him with injury to real property and unauthorized use of motor vehicle.

A man who answered the door at the residence listed for Perry said Perry is a friend who is visiting from New York. He said Perry was drinking heavily Saturday when he became angry and kicked in a window, drawing blood.

According to court records, Perry was convicted in New York in 1999 of assault charges and served a year in prison before being released on parole.

Marsh raised Perry's bond from $30,000 to $50,000 and set Perry's next court date for July 14.

Perry remained in the Durham County jail Monday afternoon.

According to arrest warrants, the officer was treated at Duke University with a drug used to treat HIV infection.