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Durham, Durham County

Durham: Police officer on leave after battery charges in Florida, department says

Durham police officer Michael Bonfiglio, 42, has been on administrative leave since July, when Marco Island, Fla., police say he crashed his car and then shoved an officer who tried to help. Durham police say they are conducting an internal review.

DevelopingOfficials are still releasing information. We update this story as facts are confirmed.

By Triangle Local Staff · Published

The downtown Durham skyline under an overcast sky

File photo: Discover Durham (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • Durham police said they are aware of the incident involving officer Michael Bonfiglio and that he has been on administrative leave since it happened.Confirmed by Durham Police Department statement to WRAL (Oct. 30, 2026)
  • The Durham Police Department said it is conducting an internal review into the circumstances of the case and directed further questions about the arrest to the Marco Island Police Department.Confirmed by Durham Police Department statement to WRAL (Oct. 30, 2026)
  • Marco Island police identified the driver as Michael Bonfiglio, 42, of North Carolina, and said he was arrested and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer.Confirmed by Marco Island (Fla.) Police Department, as reported by WBBH / Gulf Coast News (July 10, 2026)
  • Bonfiglio faces two counts of battery and one count of resisting an officer.Confirmed by WINK News; WRAL (Oct. 30, 2026)

Alleged or reported

  • Marco Island police say that around 10:48 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, a car left the road near Cape Marco Drive and South Collier Boulevard and hit several trees and a wall, and that the driver became combative and assaulted an officer who tried to help him. Police said the officer was not seriously hurt.Marco Island (Fla.) Police Department, as reported by WBBH / Gulf Coast News
  • A Collier County Sheriff's Office report says Bonfiglio grabbed and shoved a corrections deputy while he was being processed at the jail.Collier County Sheriff's Office report, as reported by WINK News

Still unknown

  • His next court date
  • Whether he has an attorney who can comment for him
  • The outcome of the Durham Police Department's internal review

What this means for you

Public safety
This story is not an official or emergency notice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

What happened

A Durham police officer has been on administrative leave since July, when police in Marco Island, Florida, say he crashed his car and then shoved an officer who came to help him.

Marco Island police identified the driver as Michael Bonfiglio, 42, of North Carolina. He faces two counts of battery and one count of resisting an officer, WINK News and WRAL reported. These are allegations. Bonfiglio is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The Durham Police Department told WRAL on Thursday, Oct. 30, that it is aware of the incident and that Bonfiglio has been on administrative leave since it happened. "DPD is conducting an internal review into the circumstances surrounding this case. We are committed to fully understanding what occurred and ensuring that all appropriate actions are taken," the department said in its statement. Durham police said further questions about the arrest should go to the Marco Island Police Department.

What police say happened

According to the Marco Island Police Department, officers were called around 10:48 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, to a single-vehicle crash near Cape Marco Drive and South Collier Boulevard. Police said the car had left the road and hit several trees and a wall.

Police said officers tried to help the driver, who became combative and assaulted an officer. The department said the officer was not seriously hurt and that the crash remained under investigation.

A separate Collier County Sheriff's Office report says Bonfiglio grabbed and shoved a corrections deputy while he was being processed at the jail, WINK News reported.

What we don't know yet

His next court date is not known. It is not known whether he has an attorney. Durham police have not said when the internal review will be finished.

Timeline

  • Wednesday, July 8, 2026, about 10:48 p.m.: Marco Island police respond to a single-vehicle crash near Cape Marco Drive and South Collier Boulevard and say the driver assaulted an officer (Marco Island Police Department, via WBBH).
  • July 2026: Bonfiglio is booked into the Collier County jail, where a sheriff's office report says he shoved a corrections deputy (Collier County Sheriff's Office, via WINK News). Durham police say he has been on administrative leave since the incident (Durham Police Department, via WRAL).
  • Thursday, Oct. 30, 2026: Durham police confirm the leave and an internal review in a statement to WRAL (Durham Police Department).

What happens next

The criminal case is in Florida, and Durham's internal review is ongoing. We will update this story if there are new developments. This story is not an official or emergency notice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Photos

Text-only. No official agency photo was available to us for this story.

Why it matters

A sworn Durham police officer is off duty while criminal charges from another state and the department's own review play out.

Sources

  1. Durham police officer arrested in Florida on assault charges (WRAL, Oct. 30, 2026, including Durham Police Department statement)

    Official sourcePublished by WRAL · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 3:58 AM

  2. Marco Island police officer assaulted while investigating single-vehicle crash, MIPD says (WBBH / Gulf Coast News, July 10, 2026, citing Marco Island Police Department)

    Published by WBBH / Gulf Coast News · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 3:58 AM

  3. North Carolina man accused of attacking officer and deputy on Marco Island (WINK News)

    Published by WINK News · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 3:58 AM

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