Post Thanksgiving Laugh!

Based on the comments some of y'all are just a little too tight maybe this not a true story will help.

I have two dogs Scout and Buddy and I was buying a large bag of Purina at Costco and standing in line at the check out.

A woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting the Purina Diet again although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. 

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry and that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.  

I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a guy who was behind her.

Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital in that condition because I had been poisoned. I told her no; I stepped off a curb to sniff a poodle's ass and a car hit me.

I thought one guy was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard as he staggered out the door.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Idiots Among Us Tamika Smyre

According to the local paper, a woman was charged with driving while impaired and without a license after police accused her of hitting and killing a pedestrian on Old Pineville Road in south Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said Friday. 

Officers found 39-year-old James Hines lying in the road with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries about 8 p.m. Wednesday, police said in a news release. MEDIC pronounced Hines dead at the scene, police said.

Tamika Smyre Photo Courtesy MCSO

Police charged the driver, 45-year-old Tamika Smyre, with driving with a revoked license and possession of marijuana. Smyre was uninjured, police said. Smyre, who was driving a Lexus, was northbound in the 6100 block when Hines was hit, police said. Hines was in the lanes of travel wearing dark clothing, according to CMPD.

Smyre was released on an unsecured bond and is awaiting trial. 

The local paper's reporting is comical but at least we know she was driving a Lexus. She was driving on a revoked license and an admitted drug user. This idiots are on Charlotte street  highways and there is nothing anyone can do to stop them.

But the problem is more than just the pathetic reporting from the local paper. This drug user was high as Jesus and killed a guy but was not charged as such.

She should not have been driving and she should be in jail. But in Charloot life is cheap and because Mr. Hines was a known low level criminal there will be no charges and Smyre will be driving just as soon as she gets her hands on the keys to a car.

Blondes with Killer Looks - Idiots Among Us

They are blonde, they are hot and they are likely going to get you killed dead.

CMPD has been busy stopping these drunk drivers, stoners and crazy blondes from spreading death and destruction across the Queen City, our highways and neighborhoods. 

Just a small sample of blondes with killer looks sent to CP this month.

Monica Brown Krusemark was arrested on November 19, 20204 and was charged with Felony Possession and DWI and was later released on an unsecured bond.

Monica Brown Krusemark DOB 5/20/1983 Photo Courtesy MCSO

Maria Francis Glenn was arrested on November 16, 2024 on a DWI Charge and released on an unsecured bond.

Maria Francis Glenn DOB 04/04/1983 Photo Courtesy MCSO

Christine Lauren Hardin was arrested on November 2, 2024 on charges of domestic violence and simple assault. She was later released on an unsecured bond.

Christine Lauren Hardin DOB 01/11/1995 Photo Courtesy MCSO

Krisztina Szivia Dellinger arrested 11/10/2024 on an assault with a deadly weapon charge. She was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Krisztina Szivia Dellinger DOB 05/15/1984 Photo Courtesy MCSO

All those above are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Turmoil at Sheriff’s Office with slurs and staff shakeups

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden is making changes to the agency’s leadership while apologizing for racially inflammatory statements about department employees.

McFadden apologized on Nov. 14 in a prerecorded video for racially charged language he used in an audio recording obtained by WBTV earlier this month.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden released a video on Nov. 14 apologizing for racially inflammatory statements he made about department employees. The Sheriff’s Office has undergone major staff changes in the last month with resignation of Chief Deputy Kevin Canty in October and firing human resources director Rudyne Pearson and business operations director Angelia Riggsbee earlier this month.

“It doesn’t matter who recorded or how many years ago it was recorded, today I want to apologize for that language,” McFadden said in the video. “Held to a higher standard, that’s the office of the sheriff. But you must understand that I am human, and I am not perfect, and I will make mistakes.” 

In the recording, McFadden can be heard using bigoted language in describing Black and white people on his executive staff. He called a white captain a “cracker,” and an epithet to describe former chief deputy Rodney Collins, who is Black.

The North Carolina Sheriffs Association, which represents the state’s 100 sheriffs, issued a statement condemning McFadden’s language, adding that its executive committee voted to inquire into his conduct. 

McFadden fired two executive staff members – human resources director Rudyne Pearson, a five-year employee of the Sheriff’s Office, and business operations director Angelia Riggsbee earlier this month. Riggsbee was hired in March.

Both women who were terminated reported directly to Chief Deputy Kevin Canty, who resigned in October with a letter accusing McFadden of fostering a toxic work environment. In an interview with WBTV, Canty said McFadden pushed him to fire Riggsbee but Canty refused, telling McFadden it was without merit.

Deputy Canty's resignation letter is here.

“He told me that I could recommend it, which of course he doesn’t need that to fire anyone,” Canty told the station. “He was wanting me to be his hatchet man and to use me as a scapegoat to treat people unfairly.”

McFadden announced a series of appointments, including Christopher Allen as interim chief deputy and Shelby Jones as chief of staff.

“I am confident these leadership changes will bring the vision, integrity, and experience that’s needed to help the agency move forward,” McFadden said. “MCSO is poised to make significant strides for the future of our agency and the communities we serve. This is the beginning of a new chapter we will all work together to write.”

The staff additions are effective immediately.

Allen, who joined MCSO from the Union County Sheriff’s Office earlier this year, was chief of staff. He has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience.

Jones was McFadden’s first hire upon taking office in 2018 as executive assistant.

Shanta Williams is the new interim director of human resources while the agency conducts a search for a permanent director. Williams, who has been the Sheriff’s Office for almost 25 years, started as a fiscal analyst in business management and most recently was a human resources consultant.

Andrey Melkonyan was promoted to director of business operations. Melkonyan, who was hired in 2008, was accounting supervisor.

Cedar's Take:

The preceding is from the Charlotte Post on Sunday November 17th. 

 

It is time for a change in command as even the Charlotte Post has a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

Country Day School Coach Arrested

According to CMPD Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) have arrested and charged a former high school track coach in a Special Victims Division-Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) investigation.

On Friday, November 8, 2024, an adult victim reported to police that she had been in an inappropriate relationship with her former cross-country coach while enrolled at a local private high school.

The victim identified Matthew Elliott, 39, as the suspect.  The case was then assigned to the CMPD’s Sexual Assault Unit (SAU).

The victim told investigators that Elliott began initially flirting with her and made numerous advances and that they had an inappropriate relationship.

As a result of the investigation, detectives developed probable cause and obtained arrest warrants against Mr. Elliott.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, the CMPD detectives arrested Elliott at his home, without incident. He was taken to the Law Enforcement Center and later transported to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Matthew P Elliott Photo MCSO

He has been charged with the following:

Indecent Liberties with a Student (2 counts)

Charlotte Country Day School has confirmed Elliot was a Cross Country and Track & Field coach & substitute and had been w/the school since 2015. 

He’s since been terminated and barred from the campuses. This is the letter the school sent to its families, updating them on Elliot.

Mr. Elliott bonded out of jail late Thursday morning. 

Cedar's Take:

Y'all need to calm down. Reading comprehension counts. "Adult Victim" means she was 18. "Alum" means she was once a student and has since graduated. No telling what the real facts are but there will be no winners in this case.

I coached girls soccer and I had a firm "two foot rule". Stay at least two feet from the coach at all times. 

A "no contact rule" off the field. My cell number was not to be shared with players, only parents had the coach's cell number. Any player contacting the coach off the field in any way would be dropped from the team period. Since this was a travel team no player rides with the coach, ever! Not even with another adult.

All that said much to my shock on more than one occasion one of my players showed up at my house! One at Halloween and other at Christmas. Basically they were greeted with a kind by firm "git off my lawn".

Society has become so hyper sensitive about this that they created the law that Elliott was charged under.

So we have this person in an influence role (coach - teacher) and that makes it unlawful even if the victim is an adult (18 Years of Age). 

But making death threats against the guy is nuts. Y'all knock it off.

The truth is I saw these storm clouds on the horizon. The follow on from the Catholic Priest allegations in the 1990s and the Wilmington Daycare madness known as the Little Rascals Daycare case. 

As much as I liked coaching I gave that mess up.

Crime Wave Targeting South Charlotte Latinos?

This "scare" post went up on "X" this morning (I'll save you the endless click bait pop ups):

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is alerting residents in south Charlotte on multiple armed robberies, specifically targeting Latinos.

According to a post made by CMPD’s Spanish page, Officer Jimenez says there have been multiple reports of juveniles committing armed robberies in the areas of Old Pineville Road, Nations Ford Road and Archdale Drive. Officials say these reported robberies have been happening particularly around liquor stores in this area.

The suspects are allegedly approaching victims and asking them to purchase alcohol for them because they are underage. The suspects then attack the victims and rob them, officials say.

CMPD didn’t say if anyone has been arrested or if they have any suspects. No additional details have been given at this time.

Officer Jimenez urges anyone with information to contact CMPD. He also adds that residents should not go out at night alone and avoid carrying cash since many victims report having their cash stolen.

First "Liquor Stores" - I'm not sure who the idiot is but Charlotte doesn't have "Liquor Stores" we have ABC Stores none that are located in the South Boulevard Area. In fact the only two ABC Stores CP knows of are on 49 South Tryon at Whitehall Commons and down in Da Creek near 160.

Archdale Drive is no more "South Charlotte" than Myers Park is Uptown but ok.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police did note that they are investigating an armed robbery at a Charlotte light rail station this past Sunday. 

It happened around 1:15 a.m. at the Archdale Station for the Blue Line, which is near the intersection of South Boulevard and Archdale Drive in south Charlotte.

The Starmount area is now largely hispanic with a number of "stores" that sell beer and wine. A few are hispanic owned and operated and cater to the hispanic community. La Romero and Wow are two I can think of neither have crimes having occurred in the last four weeks.

C-Stores are more common and because they are open 24 hours present a greater opportunity for crime. Maybe because they sell beer someone thinks they are liquor stores?

Still six armed robberies in the area in four weeks is rather problematic. Seven if you add the Light Rail robbery at Archdale Station.

If you look back to July there were 47 "Robberies" in this area. Crime in general is pretty extensive with over a 1000 crimes reported in a four month period including one Homicide.

Limited information from CMPD as to suspects doesn't help. "Juveniles" is a rather broad term.

"Targeting Latinos" is another not really helpful and perhaps even erroneous comment since the area is largely Latino.  Who else are you gonna target?

A description of the suspects might as well be "Dark Hoodies, a Really Big Gun and Jordan's"

But we've been here before this below is from April of last year:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – At least 11 robbery incidents since April 1, 2023, have targeted Hispanics, according to a CMPD study.

These instances have taken place in several divisions which include Eastway, Hickory Grove, Independence, and North.

Police say the suspects in the cases are targeting Hispanic individuals at either late night or early morning, specifically in apartment complex parking lots.

Detectives advise they’re working to identify the suspects and determine if the cases are linked.

“Try to park in well-lit areas & avoid congregating in parking lots, especially late at night,” a CMPD spokesperson wrote.

Some serious answers are needed. Any suggestions?

Charlotte's Latest Homicide Victim Apree Dontel Leak Age 22

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit responded on Tuesday, November 12, shortly after 3:30 a.m., to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon call for service in the 8500 block of South Tryon Street. 

According to CMPD the victim, Apree Dontell Leak, 22, was transported to the 8500 block of South Tryon Street in a vehicle before getting the attention of a MEDIC truck to assess his injuries.

Upon arrival, Steele Creek officers discovered Mr. Leak with a gunshot wound. MEDIC transported Mr. Leak to Atrium Main and later pronounced him deceased.

Photo Courtesy MCSO

Prior arrests including most recent charges of felony possession, simple assault and weapons charges were either dismissed by the Mecklenburg DA's office or given deferred prosecution.

Mr. Leak’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

CMPD continues to investigate this case which is considered active and ongoing. 

 Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. 

Detective Planty is the lead detective assigned to this case.  The public can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://charlottecrimestoppers.com.  

For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20241112-0339-00.

Former GOP governor: What the election says about where America is headed | Opinion

The Honorable Jim Martin is old school North Carolina and sadly out of touch. But given that Mecklenburg County voted strongly in favor of the Democratic Candidate his Opinion is at least worth consideration. Martin being an old white guy chose to voice his concerns via the Charlotte Observer which few people read. Even reading online is painful with endless pop ads, videos and subscriptions pleas.

So here unedited is the published Governor's letter to the editors.  

We’re one week past an election that would have been a surprise no matter who won. President-Elect Donald Trump and his team are busy organizing key appointments. Democrats are busy blaming each other for a hard-fought loss. Losers respond this way after close elections. Partly it’s jockeying for position four years later. 

Much will be written about how polling dominated much of every day’s news. By emphasizing that Trump was gaining, very close or ahead of Harris, polls conveyed subliminal approval that it was popular to vote for Trump. For two months voter preferences seemed frozen in time.

Both parties dumping a half billion dollars on just seven swing states surely stirred their bases but probably overloaded the minds of the small subset of undecided voters. Too many wild accusations may have strained belief. Swing states were confused by thousands of harsh ads accusing each other respectively of fascism or communism. Fear of Trump was offset by distrust of Harris. 

Some acknowledge a major handicap for Vice President Kamala Harris. She had never won support in any state presidential primaries. The hot issue of abortion rights was her best major policy advantage, plus being the only candidate with no scandal or criminal record. Border control came too little, too late.

Both parties dumping a half billion dollars on just seven swing states surely stirred their bases but probably overloaded the minds of the small subset of undecided voters. Too many wild accusations may have strained belief. Swing states were confused by thousands of harsh ads accusing each other respectively of fascism or communism. Fear of Trump was offset by distrust of Harris. Some acknowledge a major handicap for Vice President Kamala Harris. She had never won support in any state presidential primaries. The hot issue of abortion rights was her best major policy advantage, plus being the only candidate with no scandal or criminal record. Border control came too little, too late.

Her campaign tried to appeal to moderate voters, hinting how she would work for everybody, whatever that meant, while assuring the base that her “values haven’t changed.” The only concession she personally promised consistently was to permit fracking in Pennsylvania. If she had a legitimate reason for that, she never let on. 

The celebrity class helped Harris raise money, but few voters are persuaded by opinions of elites. Her strong emphasis on identity politics to energize racial minorities and feminist voters likely backfired, driving substantial numbers of young adult males, white, Black and Latino, to Trump in hopes of job prospects and defense of their masculinity. 

James Carville, after predicting a Harris victory (nice try, James), lamented that her campaign was negated by “woke era” politics. Stephen A. Smith criticized that she was “catering too much to people on the fringes.” On the extreme left, Sen. Bernie Sanders chided her for not pushing socialism, even after she promised new free stuff. Harris was blamed for advancing progressive ideals too fast and too slow.

Meanwhile, Trump kept acting like Trump: vindictive, boastful, insulting, long-winded, scowling, even frightening, with a mass hypnotic effect. Television news filled its sound bites of Trump with his blatant bluster of name-calling, leaving little time to critique his policies. It was as if millions concluded that his criminal trial amounted to partisan persecution and January 6, 2021 was a patriotic celebration. It was still among the six closest elections in a hundred years, about the average margin of electors for the last seven elections in a deeply divided nation. 

Our immediate future depends on our leaders of both parties and all factions taking a calmer approach with each other, discussing differences with clarity and respect so decisions can be worked out for the good of all. As always, there will be mistakes, errors and false starts. There will also be many steps for our benefit. 

What’s ahead for America? Much depends on the attitude shown by the new leadership of the Trump administration. More respect and less revenge on former opponents will help rebuild a more united nation. This will be easier for them if Democrats continuing in office will rise above the tactic of opposing every Republican initiative just for spite. Then the rest of us can speak freely with confidence, lifting up bipartisan agreements that work while calling out partisan excesses that divide.

Let’s be courageous enough to lift up the positives before we call out the negatives.

Cedar's take: 

Jim Martin is 88, he was a friend of my father's and they rode with the same posse. Names only "Old Charlotte" would recognize as people who mattered. His opinion should matter. It won't.

His dislike of Trump is not surprising. Martin who was elected simply because he ran for Governor the same year that Reagan ran for President is diametrically opposite of Donald Trump. 

Trump defeated Harris in a landslide except in Mecklenburg County where Harris beat Trump by a wide margin. 

Kamala D. Harris DEM 374,955 65.17%

Donald J. Trump REP     187,197 32.54%

Perhaps the bigger concern are the 13,000 neighbors who voted for Green Party Candidates or wrote in "My Dog". 

Let's be honest democrats aren't going to fix Charlotte. Crime is out of control, the sheriff is racist AF, CMPD moral is low, perhaps not as bad as under Rodney but still low. Most are continuing the days. City Infrastructure is abysmal, roads, street lights, mass transit, even the airport is poorly managed. 

Yet  they keep electing the same democrat clowns year after year. Please understand they are some democrats that deserve respect. Some I even voted for last week.

But seems crazy to me people who fled the high crime and taxes of California, the Northeast and Midwest would move to Charlotte and yet vote for the same politicians who destroyed the last place they lived. 

To them I have only one question - need a map?

Zachary Evan Reiken Drug Deal Goes "Bad"

The news media often describes certain crimes of violence as "drug deals that went badly". But the truth is a drug deal is already bad. 

And so is the case of Zachary Evan Reiken age 18 who had his life taken via a “drug deal gone bad” on Friday October 25 just before midnight.

According to court records just before midnight CMPD South Division officers responded to 12803 James Blakeney Avenue for an Accident with Personal Injury call.

Upon arrival, officers located a white Jeep that had crashed into a tree. Charlotte Fire and Medic also arrived and began treating a victim in the vehicle who they quickly determined was suffering from a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. The male victim was identified as Rieken.

Shortly after arrival Medic pronounced Rieken deceased at just after midnight.

CMPD Homicide Detectives spoke with witnesses, who provided video surveillance from nearby residence. 

The video footage shows the victim's vehicle, a white Jeep Wrangler with NC License Plates, impacted a tree along James Blakeney Avenue. 

Five suspects can also seen in the video footage.

Neighbors also provided this image of the suspect vehicle with the distinctive Mercedes emblem.

Three of the five suspects approach the Jeep driver’s side window. One of the approaching suspects appears to be a white male wearing red hoodie, light colored undershirt, and black shorts. 

Shortly after that another suspect dressed in a black clothing and white shoes fires single gunshot into the victim's vehicle, which at this time is in forward motion. The suspects then run back towards a white Mercedes-Benz SUV and flee the scene.

Detectives later identified a juvenile age 17 and charged him with First Degree Murder and Discharging Firearm into an Occupied Conveyance in Operation. This suspect was in possession of a blue iPhone at the time of his arrest. The phone was submitted, and forensic analysis was obtained on the phone. Detectives reviewed the phone analysis and found text messages leading up to, and just prior to the murder, between J.C. and the victim, arranging a drug transaction. 

Detectives found text messages from the juvenile. to another subject stating he was "Waitin to rob the Plug", shortly before the murder.

Additionally, Detectives identified the suspect vehicle as a white, 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350, with a NC license plate. 

On 10/29/2024, detectives located the vehicle parked in front of 10012 Juniper Trace Drive, Charlotte, NC 28277. Detectives spoke with a cooperating witness, who was present during the time of the shooting. The witness stated that he knew the victim to sell marijuana, and provided that he was in communication with the victim leading up to the murder. The witness further stated that another male who he knew by the name of "Jay Banz", and another witness approached the victim's vehicle at the time of the murder. The witness stated that "Jay Banz" was in possession of a firearm at the time.

Sanjie A’Nee Johnson Photo Courtesy MCSO

CMPD Detectives obtained surveillance video of the witness, co-defendant, and "Jay Banz", and the suspect vehicle, just prior to the murder taking pictures in front of the suspect vehicle with the firearm. 

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, detectives spoke with witness, who was present during the time of the offense. The witness identified "Jay Banz" as the one who shot the victim.

CMPD Detectives have since identified Sanjie Johnson a black male DOB 4/8/2026 as "Jay Banz".

Sanjie Johnson aka “Jay Banz” remains in jail as the judge has again refused to grant bail. Johnson’s next court hearing is on November 22 at 1:30 PM.

The common refrain is the weed is harmless. 

A memorial service was held for Reiken on Monday in Weddington.

Reiken was just 18 when he was murdered.

MCSO Chief Deputy Kevin Canty Resigns

Chief Deputy Canty resigned Friday, making scathing claims about Sheriff Garry McFadden. 

In his resignation letter, Chief Deputy Kevin Canty accused McFadden of “running the agency into the ground” and that it “functions like a third-world dictatorship.” 

The letter below and now posted on the FOP Facebook page is a pointed rebuke to McFadden's management style.