Blog CLOSED

As of June 1st this Blog will no longer be updated due to lack of funding and time. I will miss everyone...and if you should have any questions...please email me at simmer30nc@yahoo.com thanks and best wishes.. Shane

Recent Arests

Name : STUTTS, KEEFER DEVOE
DOB: 02/22/1958
Race/Sex: W/M
Height: 5'08"
Weight: 150
Arrested: 07/16/2008 At: 21:50
By:CMPD
Address: 241 DALTON AV CHARLOTTE NC 28217
MISDEMEANOR
SOLICIT - CRIME AGINST NATURE

Crime Blotter: 7/17/08-7/20/08

Click on the links below to view the significant crimes reported by CMPD:
► Monday, July 14th
► Tuesday, July 15th
► Wednesday, July 16th
► Thursday, July 17th
► Friday, July 18th
► Saturday, July 19th
► Sunday, July 20th

Man Arrested on Bank Robbery Charges

At approximately 1:30 this afternoon, a subject walked into the First Citizens Bank located at 4325 Randolph Road and demanded cash from the victim teller and implied having a gun.The subject obtained cash from the bank and fled in a red pick-up truck. Officers quickly responded to the area and a traffic stop was initiated involving a red pick-up truck, on Fairview Road, minutes after the robbery.The suspect, Alta RaVon Bost, Sr., was taken into custody without resistance and cash was recovered. Bost is charged with common law robbery of the First Citizens Bank.

3 NC teachers arrested, charged in sex sting

Associated Press
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Three North Carolina teachers have been arrested and charged with soliciting a minor for sex after a police sting.
Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes identified the teachers at a news conference Friday as David Brian Seus, 30, Kevin Samuel, 46, and David Frank Pace, 68.
Sheriff's Det. C.L. Overcash said in a telephone interview that two of the suspects contacted a deputy posing as a 13-year-old girl, and another deputy posing as a 14-year-old girl was contacted by the third suspect. Overcash didn't elaborate as to which suspects contacted the two deputies.
The 30-year old Seus is a teaching assistant and a lacrosse coach at Western Guilford High School. He was arrested Tuesday and was released after posting bond. He resigned Thursday.
Samuel, 46, teaches at The High School Ahead Academy. He was arrested Thursday and held on a $10,000 bond.
Pace, a 68-year-old teacher in Hendersonville, was being held on a $190,000 bond after he was arrested on Tuesday. Sheriff's deputies said he communicated with them on several occasions and that more charges against him are possible.
Barnes told reporters that the investigation did not target teachers.
"To come up with three teachers in a short period of time was a little unusual," he said.
Guilford County Schools is conducting its own internal investigation.
"The safety and welfare of children is the district's top priority, which is why GCS conducts stringent criminal background checks on all individuals recommended for employment and performs checks annually on a random sample of all employees, including substitutes," school officials said in a statement.

Crime crackdown in CMPD's South Division

By WCNC Staff
A jump in crime in Charlotte has many people worried. But the city's new police chief has a plan to make our streets safer by targeting hotspots for crime. Charlotte-Mecklenburg is divided into 13 police patrol divisions. The CMPD's South division is one area where Police Chief Rodney Monroe is revamping methods to fight crime.
This comes as the number of home burglaries and car break-ins in South Charlotte has increased dramatically. For example, there was a string of garage door opener thefts, where investigators say crooks were breaking into cars to steal the garage door openers, then getting easy access into homes. There was a recent home break-in at a Ballantyne Country Club house.
Chief Monroe has ordered a reshuffling of officers, which means more cops on the streets. Now there's two teams of six officers who are patrolling targeted areas in the South Division. Those officers are looking for suspicious activities in neighborhoods. Monroe says police welcome help from a watchful community. Monroe says police are on a mission in the neighborhoods, "to continue to let them know that they are a viable part of their own personal safety, and that we want them to continue to be our partners in trying to make every community safe."
Heeding that call, neighbors in the Steele Creek area will meet Sunday to form a neighborhood watch program.

Scout leader faces child porn charges

From: Johnell Johnson News 14 Carolina CHARLOTTE -- A former Boy Scout leader who was arrested and charged with having child pornography on his computer is expected to appear in court Tuesday.
Charles Franklin Knight, 62, was released from the Mecklenburg County jail around 5 a.m. Tuesday after posting bail. He is scheduled to be in court at 1 p.m. to face six counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor.
A neighbor whose apartment is below Knight’s says a repairman made the discovery after being called to Knight’s home to fix an air conditioner. The woman says her boyfriend’s mother called police after the air conditioning unit in Knight's apartment began to leak into theirs.
Investigators say Knight turned over some child pornography, which allegedly included inappropriate Internet images as well as a laptop computer.

Knight told police he's been involved with the Boy Scouts for 50 years and co-coordinated a home-based youth program at Christ Church in Gastonia. The church and the Boy Scouts have a rule of never leaving children alone with adults but none of that is comforting for neighbors.
“As a father-to-be, when I think of things like that, it just makes my blood boil,” said neighbor Tony Kamper. “It’s just so sick that you wonder how something like this happened in this neighborhood."To make sure they hire the right people to be leaders within the organization, the Boy Scouts perform background checks and they say they make sure there is no one-on-one contact between children and adults. Click HERE for News 14 Video

Reader Comments

From PAT: in reference to a WCNC report and an article here

This is sure getting a lot of press. I recently moved from the Steele Creek area after 19 years there. Have witnessed the changes. I now live near Ballentyne. There are problems here too but not as significant. Steele Creek is great. I left for personal reasons. Both my children grew up knowing everyone. It's almost it's own neighborhood. Although a very large neighborhood. I continue to travel through on my way to work and home each day. It's a shame that with amenities and growth these problems follow. It was just a sleepy community that not much happened in.

I'm glad that WCNC has latched onto this story. This is happening all over Charlotte. Steele Creek just seems to continue one of those pockets where there is history with the residents having grown up there. Where else can you pass cows on your way to work and never leave city limits?

My son was the latest victim on Markswood. A "kid" who just bought the house. Hate that he's having to go through this. It was an awesome turnout for the meeting. Hope they can make a difference! Now if they can catch them and not release them the next day on bail.

Thanks for your website. I am a regular on Crimeincharlotte.com. Kelly does a really great job and I found your website there.

I was so glad to hear from one of my readers. I know how hard it can be growing up, let alone all the stress there is in Steele Creek. Working as a Security Officer in the area for several years I have seen hundreds of drug busts, prostitute arrests and accidents all due to poor economic situations and lack of support by business, police and residents. Tree Top is a perfect example. However it is, human nature to desire and attempt to change in order to adapt and overcome all the issues today. Pat, my heart goes out to you, having children in this area is a great responsibility, so kudos to you there. If we as people (no matter the race, religion) stand together, we all can see a great change. Feel free to read a older post I wrote on Hate. Kelly and her crime in charlotte page has inspired so many. I hope she knows how much great work she does for our community. Thank you for the comment Pat, I look foreward to hearing from you again.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-071308-sjf-Steelecreekmeeting.520d2181.html

Crime Blotter

Click on the links below to view the significant crimes reported by CMPD:
► Monday, July 7th
► Tuesday, July 8th
► Wednesday, July 9th
► Thursday, July 10th
► Friday, July 11th
► Saturday, July 12th
► Sunday, July 13th

Reader Comments Wecome

If you are a regular reader and if you are interested in contributing content to this blog (i.e., crime news, mug shots links, crime prevention info, etc.) please e-mail me and let me know how you'd like to contribute.

Thanks Again for all your support..

Steele Creek neighborhood hit by rash of break-ins

This came to me via email from a faithful reader.....
From By TONY BURBECK / WCNC E-mail Tony: TBurbeck@WCNC.com

WCNC CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Markswood residents in the Steele Creek area are banding together to fight a recent rash of home burglaries.
Three homes have been broken into on the same road in the last several weeks.
On Sunday, neighbors will work on a neighborhood watch, exchange numbers and see what else they can do to keep it from happening again.
"Just kicked it in, broke the door jamb and ransacked the house,” said burglary victim David Horak.
He got the call while working. Burglars hit the house he shares with roommates.
"TV's, laptops, iPods, surround sound. They took every single cord off every single electronic device we had,” he said.
No one was home when it happened.
Horak heard this story from neighbors about a burglary down the street a few weeks ago and the victim's relatives confirm it.
It works like this: Two women knock. If someone answers?
"Oh sorry, we have the wrong house,” Horak said, describing what happens.
Until now, neighbors didn't think much of it.
"You don't hesitate to open the door really and talk to them," he said.
But if no one answers, two men working with the two women pull up, kick in the door and steal from the home.
Neighbors say it appears burglars wait for the buzz to die down, and then come back in a different car.
A third victim who had money and jewelry stolen after someone broke into his house says he's getting the serial numbers off all of his electronics, removing valuables from his house and keeping a gun nearby.
This Sunday, neighbors are getting together to work on a neighborhood watch and see how they can better look out for one another -- something the police urge neighborhoods to do.
Steele Creek is one of 13 police divisions in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Crime statistics show there were 231 residential burglaries at this time last year. There have been 305 so far this year -- a 32 percent increase.
Armed robberies have increased from 82 at this time last year to 99 so far this year -- more than a 20 percent increase.
Auto break-ins are up 33 percent from 672 last year to 896 this year.

Convicted Felon Arrested on Drug Charges

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Vice & Narcotics detectives along with agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation arrested 67-year old Roy Jack Coley on several drug-related charges.This arrest was the result of a lengthy undercover investigation of Coley for selling prescription drugs, including Oxycontin, Methadone, Morphine, Hydrocodone, Darvocet, Xanax and Valium. During this investigation Coley sold Darvocet and Hydrocodone along with Xanax and Valium to undercover officers.Coley was at his residence when detectives served him with nine separate arrest warrants and took him into custody July 9, 2008. Three of the arrest warrants were for Trafficking in Opiates along with two for Sell Schedule IV C/S, two for Deliver Schedule IV, and two for Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Sch. IV. A handgun, $600.00 in cash and 59 Dolophine tablets (identical to Methadone) were seized from the residence.Coley is currently being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail under $186,000.00 bond. Additional arrests of others involved with Coley are forthcoming. Mr. Coley has priors of
C/S-SCH II- P/W/I/S/D COCAINE
C/S-SCH III- SELL SCHEDULE III CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

CMPD Seeking Two Fugitives

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team is seeking information from the public on the whereabouts of two robbery suspects:Terrance McBride-McBride is wanted in connection with a June 7th shooting that occurred at 4385 Central Avenue. Shortly after the shooting, McBride cut off his electronic monitor and has been on the run for several weeks. Terrance currently has several outstanding warrants including Assault With A Deadly Weapon-Serious Injury and Armed Robbery. McBride had been court ordered on the CMPD Electronic Monitoring Program since he was released from jail on March 13th, 2008 for armed robbery.

Antonio Cunningham-Cunningham was court ordered onto the CMPD Electronic Monitoring Program on May 17, 2008 when he was released from jail on bond for an armed robbery. Cunningham was involved in a domestic dispute on June 25, 2008. As police responded to the call for service, Cunningham cut off his electronic monitor and has been on the run for several weeks. Cunningham has outstanding orders for his arrest for several charges including Armed Robbery.Both electronic monitors were tracked and recovered within minutes of removal.Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cunningham or McBride is asked to contact CMPD's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team at (704) 336- 8228 (VCAT) or 911.

Walking Pedestrian finds Body in Park

CMPD Homicide Detectives are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in the Ramblewood Park, located on Nations Ford Road.Police say the body of 22-year old Michael Lewis Campbell was found at approximately 9:05 this morning by a park patron- who notified an off duty officer. Campbell was last seen in the Windsong Trail neighborhood by family members on Thursday.


CMPD is asking anyone with information to please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Recent Arrests

Name : JONES, MERLIN MAURICE* ROBBERY (COMMON LAW)* RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER

1 shot in face, 1 struck by vehicle

CHARLOTTE -- One person was shot and another hit by a car in southwest Charlotte on Sunday morning.
Police say a man was shot in the face at about 5:30 a.m. at Nations Ford Road and Arrowood Road. While he was trying to get away, a second person was hit by a car.
At last check police were still looking for that person Click HERE to watch video.

By: Kate Gaier NEWS 14

Crime Blotter

Click on the links below to view the significant crimes reported by CMPD:

► Monday, June 30th

► Tuesday, July 1st

► Wednesday, July 2nd

► Thursday, July 3rd

► Friday, July 4th

► Saturday, July 5th

► Sunday, July 6th

Hidden Valley Slayer Arrested

Police arrested 41-year old William Daniel Thomas (Shown R) and charged him with murder after he shot and killed 35-year old Calvin Eugene Thompson in the Hidden Valley neighborhood. In addition, a second victim was injured during the shoot-out.Police say the shooting happened last night on Georgetown Drive around 11:00 pm. Based on witness reports, the victims were arguing before the shooting. Thompson died shortly after arriving at Carolinas Medical Center. Bobby Fluitt, 50, has non-life threatening injuries and is expected to survive.

Recent Arrests

Name : ORELLANA, ERNESTO EDILBERTO
* PROSTITUTION - SOLICITING FOR

CMPD Investigating Shooting Deaths of Two Brothers

Williams turned himself in. He is currently in the Mecklenburg County Jail.Police are searching for Montrez Benjamin Williams (Shown R) in relation to the shooting deaths of two brothers that occurred last night shortly before 10:30 pm. Police have issued two murder warrants for his arrest.Police say Terry Long, 18, and Joshua Davis, 17, of 3130 Hiram Drive, were shot and killed on Romare Bearden Drive- located off West Blvd.When police arrived, they found the two brothers lying on the sidewalk at the corner of Romare Bearden and Spring Forest Drive. Both sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced deceased at the scene.Police say witnesses reported an ongoing dispute between two groups of teens which led up to the shooting. According to witness statements, several teens were standing at the corner arguing. After the shots were fired, two or three teens were seen fleeing the area and Williams was identified as the shooter.If you have any information about Montrez Williams, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Armed Residents Patrolling Streets of Charlotte

The Charlotte Observer reported about Scott Yamanashi- a man who survived a shooting at the Snug Harbor bar. He is starting an armed patrol in his community. Mr. Yamanashi formed the group called Neighborhood Watch Alliance, which is comprised of some of his friends from businesses off Central Avenue.He said the plan is for the group to patrol the Central Avenue area with handguns, flashlights and notepads. "We can lurk in the shadows, watch people and report what we see,” he said. “That's not against the law.”Yamanashi said his group plans to get T-shirts and walk through the business district. They will take notes about criminal activity and report it to police. Not all members will be armed but those who have permits to conceal their handguns likely will. His group wants to be the 'eyes and ears” for the police. Eventually he'd like to raise money to buy radios so the group and business owners can communicate, he said.Read more news on the topic@ WCNC News & The Charlotte Observer

City Council Funds DA's Office for Property Crimes

At tonight's city council meeting, members voted unanimously to spend $369,075 to fight property crime in Charlotte.The money will go towards the hiring of two new assistant district attorneys and three support personnel. The five member team will strictly go after habitual property crime offenders and make sure they are prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law.WBTV reported tonight about a man named Wesley Patterson, who was arrested last month for the 89th time. Most all of his crimes are property related and he has served little jail time. Other similar examples include; Charles Hall, The Robinson's, Bridgett Nicole Evans, William Owens, Robert Morrison King and Robert Gregory Brown.According to WBTV, the new initiative is designed to give repeat offenders more significant jail time rather than an unbroken pattern of arrest, release, and re-arrest. The goal of the initiative is to make sure every habitual offender who breaks into cars or homes is charged as a felon -- something that is not always the case right now. If convicted, the habitual repeat offenders will see longer jail time.
source:www.crimeincharlotte.com

Crime Blotter

Click on the links below to view the significant crimes reported by CMPD:

► Monday, June 16th

► Tuesday, June 17th

► Wednesday, June 18th

► Thursday, June 19th

► Friday, June 20th

► Saturday, June 21st

► Sunday, June 22nd

Recent Arrests

Name : NORMAN, WILLIAM
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL
* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON

Name : HAYES, PATRICK MICHEAL
* ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON--SERIOUS INJURY - OTHER

Name : GIVENS, CHARIO RASHAD
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON-BUSINESS/OTHER PLACE* CONSPIRACY - FELONY* KIDNAPPING - SECOND DEGREE

Crime Blotter

Click on the links below to view the significant crimes reported by CMPD:

► Monday, June 9th

► Tuesday, June 10th

► Wednesday, June 11th

► Thursday, June 12th

► Friday, June 13th

► Saturday, June 14th

► Sunday, June 15th

Man Carjacked & Shot

Shortly before 3:30 am, a man was shot after he was carjacked and forced to drive around.Police say the victim told them two men pulled up behind him while he was at a stop light at Farm Pond Lane and Albemarle Road. The victim said the men were driving a gray Saturn.The victim said the men got into his vehicle and forced him to drive to Pegram Street. The suspects then shot him in the leg and stole his car. Police have not released any suspect information.

38 Arrests in 3 Years-- 2 Convictions!!!

Meet 19-year old Hakeem Cherry. Cherry is one of Charlotte's notorious repeat offenders who has yet to serve any time for his crimes- including a robbery in 2006.CMPD Officers have arrested Hakeem Cherry 38 times in the past three years and he has yet to spend a day in jail. He has two convictions and he received probation for both charges- including a DUI!

Police Investigating Death of Man Detained by Citizens

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Detectives are conducting an investigation following the death of a man who died after being detained by citizens awaiting the arrival of police.Police have identified the man who died as 29-year old Spencer Scott Page, of Matthews. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed and the Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducting an autopsy. Detectives will present the completed investigation to the District Attorney for decisions on any charges.Police say around 9:00 am, CMPD got a call for service from a person who was detaining a man he had discovered breaking into his vehicle on Uxbridge Woods Court. According to witness statements, the resident noticed the doors were open on his vehicle and on an adjacent vehicle. When he went outside to investigate, he encountered the subject and a struggle ensued.The subject was armed with a screwdriver and was assaulting the resident. The resident was yelling for help and two City of Charlotte Sanitation employees, who were working nearby, went to assist. One of the employees physically restrained the subject while the resident went inside to call 911.When the CMPD officer arrived, she put handcuffs on the subject and the people detaining him stepped away. The subject was not responsive and the officer called for Medic and removed the handcuffs. The subject was pronounced deceased at Carolinas Medical Center.

Teen Robbed & Shot in West Charlotte

A 14-year old boy is in critical condition after he was shot and robbed Tuesday evening while walking with a friend along a dead end path near Kenhill Drive.
Three unknown black males approached the teens and both teenage boys were robbed of their sneakers, earrings, cell phones and $30 in cash. One of the robbery suspects shot the 14-year old during the robbery.
If you have any information, please contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Crime Blotter

Click on the links below to view the significant crimes reported by CMPD:

► Monday, June 2nd

► Tuesday, June 3rd

► Wednesday, June 4th

► Thursday, June 5th

► Friday, June 6th

► Saturday, June 7th

► Sunday, June 8th

Couple Arrested After Robbing & Stabbing Four Men

Yesterday afternoon, CMPD Officers arrested and charged a couple after they went on a robbery spree targeting Hispanics. The duo robbed five people and stabbed four of the five robbery victims. All of the victims are expected to be okay.Police say Sheldon Straite and Anitra Sadler Friday are responsible for the following robberies:11:56 am: A man was armed with a knife and robbed a Hispanic male selling ice cream with a push cart on Blackhawk Lane. The victim said a woman was in the getaway car during the robbery.12:33 pm: A victim was robbed and stabbed in the parking lot of a bank on Central Avenue. The victim described the robbers as a black male and black female.

12:51 pm: A Hispanic male was stabbed in the stomach multiple times after being robbed by a man outside a Laundromat on Morningside Dr. The robber was seen leaving the area with a woman in the getaway car.1:15 pm: A Hispanic male pushing an ice cream cart was robbed and stabbed by a man on Conway Avenue. The assailants were described as a thin black man and a heavy-set black woman with long dreadlocks. Both suspects were wearing white T-shirts.1:54 pm: A Hispanic male pushing an ice cream cart was stabbed on Archdale Drive by a man who fled in a car driven by a woman. The man was described as thin and was wearing a white T-shirt and dark sunglasses.2:02 pm: CMPD Officers stop suspects at the intersection of Independence Blvd & Idlewild Rd. The two were transported to HQ for questioning and later charged with the robberies.

Crime Blotter

Click on the links below to view the significant crimes reported by CMPD:

► Monday, May 26th

► Tuesday, May 27th

► Wednesday, May 28th

► Thursday, May 29th

► Friday, May 30th

► Saturday, May 31st

► Sunday, June 1st

Captured: CMPD's Most Wanted - Timothy Mackey

In early February, CMPD asked for the public's assistance in locating Timothy Antoine Mackey and added him to the VCAT Most Wanted list. On Friday, Timothy 'Puff' Mackey was captured!According to police, Mackey is responsible for a shooting that occurred on Oak Arbor Lane on January 19, 2008. He is charged with two counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon Intending to Kill- Inflicting Serious Injury, First Degree Kidnapping and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.Mackey is currently in the Mecklenburg County Jail under a $385,000 bond.

sorry folks but I moved as of June 1st to NJ I will no longer post to this blog....

If you would like more information please email me personally at simmer30nc@yahoo.com and I will be sure to respond! Thank You for your support and I will miss you all!

CMPD Cold Case Unit Volunteer's Receive Award

US Attorney General Michael Mukasey will present members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Homicide Cold Case Unit review board with the Citizen Volunteer Service Award on May 30, 2008 at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. The annual award recognizes citizens who volunteer to assist law enforcement or Department of Justice initiatives.James Zopp, Brendan Battle, Daniel Caylor, Raymond Bowley, Harvey Katowitz and Dr. Vivian Lord make up a volunteer review team who give cold cases a solvability rating. They prepare reports for investigators that detail victimology, a summary of the crime, a summary of evidence recovered at the scene, witness information and statements, potential suspects and related investigations. Members decide how likely the case can be solved if it is reopened. Homicide Cold Case Unit investigators then begin an active investigation.The review team is made up of four retired FBI Agents, a retired NYPD Captain and the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department at UNC Charlotte. Since it began, the review team has researched nearly 100 cases. 25 have been cleared and 18 people have been arrested. Team members spend countless hours of their own time to help search out answers for families who have been waiting, sometimes decades, for resolution.Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police established the Homicide Cold Case Unit in 2003 when more than 400 cases, dating back to the 1960’s, remained unsolved. CMPD asked the FBI to join them in investigating these cases. Under the Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership of dozens of local law enforcement agencies, the Homicide Cold Case Unit has access to the vast resources of the FBI. The Homicide Cold Case Unit is made up of two CMPD detectives and an FBI Agent.

Unsolved Murder: Herbert Clayton Berry

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the family of the homicide victim need your help...Herbert Clayton Berry was shot and killed on October 30, 2006, in the parking lot at 1419 W. Trade St. while riding his bicycle. His murder remains unsolved. Detectives and his family are asking for your help.Anyone with any information is asked to contact Charlotte-Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or Homicide Detective M.G. Burke at 704-336-4455.

NC Insurance Department Employee Killed in Charlotte

UPDATE II: 5-20-08: Police recovered Sallie Rohrbach's body near Fort Mill, SC.
UPDATE: Michael Arthur Howell, 40, has been arrested and charged with Rohrbach's murder. Police haven't released any additional information.
----
Sallie Rohrbach, 44, is an auditor for the NC Dept. of Insurance who came to Charlotte to conduct an insurance audit and has since disappeared. She was last seen on Wednesday at the Dilworth Insurance Agency located on South Blvd.

This morning, police recovered her state issued Chevy Malibu in the Bojangles’ parking lot- located at West Blvd & South Tryon St. If you have any information about the disappearance, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or the CMPD Missing Persons Unit at 704-336-2311.

News Coverage: WSOC, WCNC, News 14, Charlotte Observer, www.crimeincharlotte.com

Two Employees Shot During Motel Armed Robbery; One Killed

Shortly before 10:30 pm last night, two motel employees were shot by an armed robber at the Country Hearth Inn, located on Equipment Drive . One employee died at the scene and the other suffered serious injuries but is expected to survive.
View News Videos- Includes surveillance video: WSOC-TV, WCNC, WBTV

Police say the two employees buzzed two men into the lobby of the motel and they pretended to inquire about renting a room. During the exchange, one of the suspects pulled a gun from behind his back and shot 63-year-old Larry Broughton, who was working behind the counter. He died at the scene.

The second victim is 55-year-old Manjula Patel, the motel owner’s wife. She had just come in to work the overnight shift when the robbery occurred. Mrs. Patel suffered serious gunshot wounds but is expected to be okay.

The motel is offering a $10,000 reward for the capture of the men responsible for the shooting & murder. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600.

Source: www.crimeincharlotte.com

City Manager Selects Finalists for Chief of Police

City Manager Curt Walton announced today that three finalists from a candidate pool of 47 applicants have been selected for consideration as the next Chief of Police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

The Chief of Police serves as the leader and director of CMPD, which has been recognized as a national leader and innovator in policing. The Police Chief leads a department of more than 2,100 employees, with 1,638 sworn officers and 468 civilian positions, and manages a $174 million budget. CMPD has focused efforts on making Charlotte-Mecklenburg a safer place by establishing problem-solving partnerships and expanding police services.

Finalists were recruited and selected through a comprehensive process managed by The Waters Consulting Group that included national advertising and Web site recruitment page in addition to public input into the development of a Police Chief profile; focus groups with CMPD Command Staff, community and business leaders; elected officials surveys; assessments; panel interviews and site visits.

With experience ranging from 22 years to 28 years in policing, law enforcement, administration, operations and technology, the finalists for CMPD Chief of Police are:

Deputy Chief Jerry Sennett, CMPD
As Deputy Chief of CMPD, a consolidated city-county department, he is responsible for several different divisions, including Support Services and Field Services. Sennett supervises service area majors, who oversee such specialized units as the Transit Policing Unit, Special Events, Secondary Employment and the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Law Enforcement. He implemented COMPSTAT, a system for managing police operations by pinpointing locations, methods and perpetrators of crime, allowing CMPD to improve service throughout its 13 patrol districts. Sennett was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2004. He joined CMPD in 1979.

Deputy Police Chief Alan Dreher, Atlanta Police Department
Dreher is responsible for the daily operations of the largest municipal law enforcement agency in the State of Georgia. Since 2002, he has managed the Criminal Investigations Division, Field Operations, Support Services, the Division of Taxicabs and Vehicles for Hire and the Field Inspections Section. Prior to working in Atlanta, he served 23 years with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief, during which he was responsible for police service at Capitol Hill, The White House, and the Downtown District.

Police Chief Rodney Monroe, Richmond Police Department
Since 2004 Monroe has served as Police Chief of the City of Richmond where he created a dedicated homicide unit and started the Cooperative Violence Reduction Partnership (CVRP) with prosecutorial and correctional agencies. During his tenure as Police Chief, homicides were reduced by 33 percent. He began his policing career in 1979 as a police officer with the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department, rising to Assistant Chief of Police, the department’s second highest sworn rank. He also served as Chief of Police in Macon, GA for five years.

The public is invited to attend a public forum to meet and address all three candidates on Tuesday, May 13 at the Blake Hotel on McDowell Street starting with a candidate reception at 6 p.m. immediately followed by individual candidate forums. The new Chief of Police will be named before June 1, 2008.

CrimeInCharlotte.com Voted '2007 Best Of the Best' Local Blog

I found out today that Charlotte Magazine named crimeincharlotte.com as the '2007 Best of the Best' Local Blog. (Shown in the service category)

They didn't get all the facts straight (I don't post every mugshot) but it is still an honor...

Local blog
CrimeInCharlotte.com
When the D.A.’s office dropped the case against the punk who stole her car and then totaled it last year, Kelly was “smoking mad” and started a blog. She posts mug shots of every person booked at the jail, crime-scene photos, police report summaries, and more. Cops support her cause, and they often feed her info. There’s also a handy list of links to all manner of law-enforcement sites.

Recent Arrests

Name : BOBBITT, OZ * POSSESSION OF WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS (CHAR-MECK)














Name : LINCOLN, RICHARD POWERS
-View article about arrest -
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL
* ATTEMPT KIDNAPPING - SECOND DEGREE

11:26 PM EDT on Friday, April 18, 2008

By MELISSA MARTIN / WCNC
E-mail Melissa: MMartin@WCNC.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A registered sex offender is back behind bars after police say he tried to kidnap a woman as she loaded bags into the backseat of her car.

It happened at the Wal-Mart off Sardis Road North around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
“I felt a sharp object in my back and someone was pressed against me, and I fell in the back seat and this man was standing there. He asked me to give him the keys to my car, so I gave him the keys,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified.
Richard Lincoln, 62, is charged with robbery and attempted kidnapping. The victim says he pressed an 8-inch knife into her back. “I said, 'What do you want?' And he said, 'You're gonna drive.'”

The woman’s body was paralyzed with fear.
“If he had killed me right there on the spot, I was not gonna get in the front seat of that car and drive off.” The woman made eye contact with a man walking to his car in the parking lot, Paul Stancil, who was at the right place at the right time. “She was like, 'Help me, please.‘ And I was like, 'This guy's not with you?' And she was like, 'No. Help me, please,'" said Stancil, who helped the woman to safety. Stancil grabbed Lincoln and threw him on the ground. “I held his neck to the fact that anything he did I would have gripped it tighter,” said Stancil. Stancil kept him there until police arrived. “I just couldn't let it happen. I just couldn't let it happen,” said Stancil. “God bless him. I owe him my life,” said the woman. According to arrest records, a judge convicted Lincoln in 1995 for sexually assaulting a minor in Hillsborough County, Florida. Lincoln was arrested again in December 2007 for failing to register as a sex offender in Charlotte, and again two months ago for failing to change his address. State records show he has five aliases. He is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail on $75,000 bond.

CMPD South Division: Piper Glen Burglary & More...

On Tuesday, a resident living in the Piper Glen Community came home to discover over $150,000 worth of jewelry missing. Captain Golding of the CMPD South Division sent the following information regarding the break-in.The suspects gained entry by forcing open a door at the rear of the residence. Several factors lead police to speculate that the residence was not randomly targeted. Burglary detectives will be following up on leads provided by the victim.· The only area of the home targeted was where jewelry was stored.· The victim has had several contractors doing work in her house and recently hired a new cleaning service.· The residence was left unattended for only 55 minutes before the crime was discovered.· The alarm was not activated.· The M. O. (method of operation) has not been seen in other burglaries.Although burglaries in the South Division are up for the year, we experienced a 35% downward trend during the last 28 days as compared to the previous 28 days. We believe that the arrests and continued incarceration of several groups of burglars is driving this trend and we are optimistic about how these arrests will affect the year to date totals in the division.The summaries of these significant arrests are as follows:· As I reported in the last bulletin, we apprehended a group that we felt was responsible for the “garage door opener” burglaries. Although we have yet to connect them to similar cases, there have been no new cases with this M. O. reported.· You may recall seeing a highly televised police pursuit involving a white pickup towing a trailer in the northern part of the county. Three suspects were arrested. These individuals are very prolific burglars in the Charlotte Metro area and are suspects in cases in the South Division and neighboring Independence Division.· Two members of the group doing the “front door kick-in” burglaries are currently incarcerated on burglary and other charges.Bonds on these individuals are relatively high at this time due to their lengthy criminal histories. If these individuals are released, they will receive GPS equipped ankle bracelets and be electronically monitored by our department.Please continue to practice sound crime prevention techniques and continue to report suspicious behavior to 911. I will keep you updated with any changes. As always, thanks for your support! - Captain R. M. Golding Source: www.crimeincharlotte.com

On Saturday morning, I learned of a new organization in Charlotte called "Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte." One of the organization's founders is a mother of three young children who was attacked by a man outside a YMCA last December. She is determined to bring citizens and neighborhoods together to demand action and become part of the Charlotte crime solution! I do not know much about the organization except for what is on their website but it sounds like an organization we should all support and become a part of! From the NSC Website: "If we truly want to be a World Class City, then citizens and city leaders must be open to self-inspection, and find innovative solutions to make our community a safer place to live and work. Now is the time to to take responsibility. We must demand that our collective voice be heard. By partnering with Public and Private sector City Leaders, Law Enforcement agencies, and Neighborhood Associations, Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte will addresses these issues, working to find solutions to improving the sense of security for all citizens in Charlotte." Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte is asking ALL neighborhood leaders and concerned citizens to join them on April 28th at the Charlotte City Council Meeting at 6:30pm at the Government Center. The goal is to encourage widespread participation in this televised meeting to let our city leaders know the 'status quo' is no longer acceptable. In addition, Charlotte is selecting a new Chief of Police and we want our voice to be heard in this selection process. NSC hopes you will come to this important meeting and you are encouraged to spread the word. Don't assume your neighbors or others are representing your interests. If you care and are concerned about crime in Charlotte, your participation is needed in this important meeting! NOTE: On May 13th, the organizers of Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte will hold a public meeting to bring together neighborhood leaders from all parts of the city to address the state of crime in Charlotte. At the meeting, we will share the information we have collected, articulate community concerns to our elected officials, and explain the mission of Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte. Source: www.crimeincharlotte.com

From CMPD

With the arrival of warmer weather, the Westover Division would like to remind everyone to secure his or her garage. As we venture more and more outside to care for and enjoy our lawns, it is important to remember that, an open garage is an open invitation to criminals. It only takes a few seconds for a criminal to enter an open garage and remove your stored items.

On April 17, 2008, Hunter’s Run condominiums on Selwyn Farms Lane experienced a rash of break-ins. A silver four-door vehicle with a North Carolina license plate starting with WYC- ???? was seen leaving the area. The last four digits of the license plate are unknown. The two suspects were described as black males, one wearing a red, black and white horizontally striped shirt with shoulder length dreadlocks. There was no detailed description for the second suspect.
On April 17, 2008, Hunter’s Run condominiums on Selwyn Farms Lane experienced a rash of break-ins. A silver four-door vehicle with a North Carolina license plate starting with WYC- ???? was seen leaving the area. The last four digits of the license plate are unknown. The two suspects were described as black males, one wearing a red, black and white horizontally striped shirt with shoulder length dreadlocks. There was no detailed description for the second suspect.