Fear Factor

I thought this was pretty solid advice. So I'm offering it up for your review.

Any thoughts?? 

As a regular writer on police matters, I am in the crosshairs of many critics. Reactions to any pro-police piece on social media range from personal threats to insults to proud displays of the critic’s ignorance. 

One such comment claimed, “to shoot somebody all an officer has to do is say they were scared”. 

Versions of that claim are repeated, often along with the lament over what the critic thinks a “warrior mindset” is that creates aggression and paranoia among police officers.

Being afraid is never a justification for force or aggression. A fear that is rational, defensible, and articulable is a lawful and valid reason for the caution shown by officers.

My first “man with a gun” call sent a cold chill through my body. I was with my training officer. I don’t even remember what came of the call, I just remember how it affected me physically. I looked over at my trainer who hadn’t let me even drive the patrol car yet. He was as cool as a cucumber as he hit the lights and siren.

Of all the things I had to learn during my training as a rookie, dealing with fear was probably the most important thing. I had to learn the difference between courage and fearlessness. Good judgment does not come with fearlessness. I once had a college intern riding with me. On the first night of his ride-along, we responded to a burglary alarm at a small manufacturing facility. 

As I positioned my patrol car strategically to observe the south and west sides of a fenced enclosure around the facility to wait for a second unit to cover the other sides of the building, my intern spontaneously jumped out of the passenger seat, ran across the parking lot, and jumped over the fence, presumably to catch a burglar. Was he fearless? Yes. Was he stupid? Yes.

Courage only exists in the face of fear otherwise it is merely fearlessness which is cluelessness at its best and suicidal at its worst. What then is the role of fear in policing and when does it operate? The simple answer to the question of when is: always.

Although we think of fear as an emotion, it is a complex change in body chemistry triggered by the brain’s perception of a threat. That perception is based on experiences in life gleaned from living and learning. Those experiences are so embedded in the memory that all kinds of cues to that memory can trigger the body’s fear response. An amazing array of body chemistry alterations happen in response to a perceived threat.
The threat doesn’t have to be an exact replication of a previous dangerous experience. A parental lecture about the hazards of driving in the rain can create a life-long fear response in a driver on a rainy day. 

Even a precursor to rain such as a darkened sky, gust of wind, or a change in air pressure can cause the brain to alert the body to the threat of wet pavement. The response could be extra caution, slower speeds, a heightened awareness of other traffic, or even a decision not to drive at all. That is the value of fear. 

A police officer’s training and experience will result in multiple fear alerts resulting in a constant high level of threat awareness. They know that officers have been assaulted by all kinds of people in all kinds of situations. Officers have been attacked and killed stopping to help a stranded motorist, checking on someone’s well-being, and on the most minor of calls from jay-walking to shoplifting. Critics have no understanding of the variety of situations that pose a threat to law enforcement officers. Officers know that they will be assaulted at some point and want to avoid the delay that surprise creates in taking defensive action. Imagine that you have been given the job of cleaning out several hundred old gym lockers. In the process, you come across one occupied by a rattlesnake! Now imagine the same assignment with the information that one of those lockers has a rattlesnake in it.

To an onlooker, the locker cleaner might look foolish as they approach each metal door slowly and carefully, wondering if this is the one with the snake. But to the person checking each of those units, that caution is quite sensible and might save their life! Likewise, an observer might question why an officer approaches with a hand on their weapon, or stays behind cover making verbal commands, or chooses to gather a few facts before rushing into a building. It is a prudent response to training and experience that protects the officer, the public, and even a suspect.

This is the courage that police officers must have. Not fearlessly charging into a situation, but courageously facing dangers known and unknown every day.

Local Paper: CMPD Officers Face No Charges in Fatal Shooting

Mecklenburg County’s district attorney has decided two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers were legally justified in fatally shooting Kevin Eugene Boston last summer after he pointed a gun at the officers who identified him as a suspect in a nearby Food Lion theft. 

Boston, 45, exchanged fire with the officers in June, District Attorney Spencer Merriweather on Tuesday confirmed in releasing a 42-page report (Which can be found Here) of his office’s findings. That review included information from interviews with the police officers, an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, and a review of body camera footage. 

The DA’s report says one of the officers fired first at Boston, conflicting with previous statements from the police department that the officers were returning fire. 

Officers Erik Torres and Richard Meyer found Boston on a sidewalk near the Food Lion on Tuckaseegee Road where he’d reportedly flashed his gun at an attendant while leaving the store without paying for his items. Someone at the store called 911 about an armed robbery, CMPD said.

Torres first approached Boston on the sidewalk and pointed his gun at Boston while yelling “hands,” according to body cam video described in Merriweather’s report. Meyer told Boston to put his hands up while both officers pointed their guns at him. 

He had two grocery bags, dropped them, and pulled a gun from around his waistband, Merriweather wrote. 

Merriweather’s report says Boston refused police commands to drop his weapon, swung his gun as he walked past one of the officers, and raised the gun and pointed it “in the direction of” Meyer and Torres even after he was shot. Earlier in the encounter, Merriweather’s report says, Boston had briefly pointed his gun at himself, holding it under his chin. 

That prompted Meyer and Torres to take cover behind their patrol cars. 

Meyer, who has worked for CMPD since 2005, said he thought Boston was going to shoot himself when he held his gun to his chin, but as Boston lowered the gun, Meyer ran for cover.

Boston began walking away from the officers with his gun still in his right hand, according to the report. Torres told Boston to drop his gun before shooting toward him, according to body camera footage. Boston raised his gun while Torres continued shooting, the investigation found. 

Boston died later at the hospital. 

The autopsy report shows Boston died of six gunshot wounds. 

Boston’s family called him “KK.” He was a family man, they said. One who cared for his three teenage children as a single father. When he died, they said, police did not notify them of his death. CMPD maintains they notified family the day he died. 

CHARLOTTE POLICE SHOOTING 

Some details provided by Torres to investigators following the shooting were unclear, the DA’s report shows. For instance, the report states “Officer Torres could not recall whether he or (Boston) shot first, but he heard glass shatter from (Boston’s) gunfire. He could not remember whether he fired before hearing the glass shatter.” 

Meyer, who fired two shots at Boston, also said he did not know at the time whether Boston or Torres shot first. 

The DA’s report says: “Officer Torres fired additional rounds, and the decedent turned and faced Officers Torres and Meyer and extended his right arm with his gun pointed toward the officers, the video shows.” 

Torres, who worked for CMPD since 2017, fired 11 shots, the investigation found.

“He fired his shots in rapid succession; saying he shot two to three times rapidly, reassessed and fired again. He fired 11 total rounds, but he only knew that after doing a round count with the SBI,” according to the DA’s report. 

Boston fired a total of six rounds toward the officers, the SBI found. 

Meyer shot at Boston twice after gunfire was exchanged between Boston and Torres, according to the findings. 

“No available evidence in this case would enable the State to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Officers Meyer and Torres did not act in defense of themselves or another,” Merriweather wrote. 

He said the intent of his review was to examine whether the officers’ actions “were unlawful in the incident leading to the death of Kevin Boston.”

CP's Take: Wow eight months for the Mecklenburg County DA to clear these two Officers? 

Then the Mecklenburg DA goes on record with “No available evidence in this case would enable the State to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt" in other words the case against the Officers wasn't strong enough"? 

Then the local paper runs the above story which paints the Officers actions as questionable. "The DA’s report says one of the officers fired first at Boston, conflicting with previous statements from the police department that the officers were returning fire."

Seriously Unfuckingbeliveable!  

No wonder CMPD is down 400 Officers and cant recruit a full class!

Rea Road / Elm Lane Rezoning Nightmare

Anyone who commutes into the SouthPark area daily from Union County (Waxhaw/Marvin/Weddington) area knows the traffic nightmare caused by Waverly on Providence. Many of those commuters now use Rea/Colony to get to work both Uptown and at SouthPark. 

The Gillespie Property zoned R-3 is the final holdout from development in an area that was once nothing more than Southern Mecklenburg County farmland.

The nearly 55-acre site has remained basically unchanged for the last three decades as Charlotte grew around it. Since the 1988 Calvary Church, The Shops at Piper Glen, TPC Piper Glen Golf Couse and the 815 homes and condos that surround the course have been built.

Now a developer wants to add more than 1100 rental units and towering apartment buildings. (Rezoning Petition 2022-121)

Charlotte City Council has a history of making really bad zoning choices. Steele Creek, W. T. Harris, Waverly on Providence and countless other approvals based on developers empty promises have been approved in the past with godawful results.

Accordingly, the Charlotte City Council will likely approve the zoning change for the Gillispie Property as they continue their efforts to build on the concept of density saturation that they have implemented across the city.

Yet current residents will suffer in ways that many will not understand until it is too late. 

Councilmembers will voice their belief that change is inevitable and taxpayers should expect and embrace this change. However, Piper Glen and other nearby property owners have the reasonable expectation that the character of their neighborhood will remain unchanged, and that the property zoned R-3 single family will remain zoned single family and not abruptly, on some misguided social agenda, become a towering multifamily rental complex.

Beyond the traffic, crime and congestion there’s the wear and tear on city streets that Charlotte can’t seem to handle now. Charlotte Solid Waste Services struggles to keep up with the current demand, delays are frequent and sometimes the catch-up of missed routes in South Charlotte goes on for several days.

CMPD has only two officers within the 30 square mile South Division 3 available at any given time. The US Postal Service is often forced to deliver mail in the 28277-zip code well after 7 PM because they don’t have enough staff. The streets are dirty, litter is everywhere, and potholes are as common as are panhandlers claiming to be homeless on every street corner.

Duke Energy has random power outages weekly in the area. The electrical grid is so fragil that it it like living in a third world country.

CMS students in South Charlotte are housed in temporary trailers that have been on site for 20 years.  In short, the area doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle the increase in traffic and residents.

The wildlife that calls this area home includes beavers, coyotes, and an abundance of deer, racoons, opossums, who have adapted to the incursion of suburbia admirably. However, it is doubtful that the Great Blue Heron rookery that exists just across Elm Lane will be as lucky. The pair of American Bald Eagles who have called Piper Glen home for the last two decades are also in jeopardy, as the development will come within 1000 feet of their home and completely destroy one of their preferred fishing ponds.

It is unconscionable to expect the area to “adjust” to greed and ignorance only to support council’s growth at any cost agenda. The property should remain zoned R-3 and be developed as a complement to Piper Glen and not another overcrowded group of concrete towers built in the name of progress and affordable housing.

Piper Glen is 850 acres with 815 homes and condos that's 1 home per acre. The developer and David Gillespie want to build 1,100 units on 53 acres more than 1/3 is wetlands. Thats a 2000% increase over the current area's character and that's nuts.

Northlake Mall Shooting Again! G-Star Edition

On Sunday MEDIC and CMPD said they were responding to reports of a shooting near the mall just before 2 p.m. 

The around 2:45 p.m., MEDIC said they were treating two patients with non-gunshot-related injuries and no gunshot victims were found at the scene.

Police said a dispute between two people outside of the DTLR led to a single shot being fired.

However, no one was struck by gunfire, according to police.

Police also told local media that mall security was on duty at the time of the shooting, however, they were not near the location where the incident occurred.

After the shooting incident he mall was evacuated and closed and would remain so for the rest of the day.

On Monday, CrimeStoppers circulated photos of three African American suspects involved in a shooting incident. One wearing a "G-STAR" hoodie.

Less than two months ago, the mall was closed early after a fight between two people ended in gunfire. Two people were shot, including a bystander. Three people were arrested. In March 2021, a juvenile was charged with the attempted murder of another youth following a shooting inside the mall.

The Mall has been in receivership since 2021 and was expected to be sold this week but those plans have been put on hold.

The Mall released the following statement regarding this recent shooting:

 “The safety of our guests, tenants, and employees is our highest priority. As you are aware, our security teams are on site 24/7; we work closely with our partners in law enforcement and are prepared to respond to a variety of events. While specific details of our security plans are not publicized, most are visible to our guests and shoppers while other measures are behind the scenes. Thank you to both our security detail and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their ongoing preparedness and professionalism. If you have any questions on this specific incident, please reach out to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.”

“Northlake Mall does have a Youth Supervision Policy that states all visitors age 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult at all times age 21 years or older on Fridays and Saturdays after 3 pm…you can refer to our website shopnorthlake.com for more information.”

JJ Speaks About CMPD

 The following is an OP-ED by CMPD Chief Jennings that appeared in the Charlotte Observer on Thursday:

It is no secret. Police departments and law enforcement agencies across the country face ongoing challenges due to an industry-wide officer shortage. 

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is no exception. We are down nearly 250 officers and we are currently experiencing a record number of retirements. 

We continue to get creative with our strategic efforts to recruit new officers, retain current officers as well as build up our civilian support staff who are so critical to our mission. 

The Police Executive Research Forum surveyed local law enforcement agencies regarding staffing, hiring, retirement and resignation trends among officers from 2019-2021. The nationwide officer shortage is supported by the key findings in the report:

▪ Down 4% in hirings in 2021 compared to 2019 

▪ Up 43% in resignations 2021 compared to 2019

▪ Up 24% in retirements in retirements 2021 compared to 2019 

Our profession has faced a multitude of challenges from COVID-19, a perfect storm of “baby boomer” retirements and “the great resignation,” to high turnover rates due to public perception of law enforcement after media coverage of high-profile police shootings and violent interactions. 

Although incentives are certainly helpful and competitive salaries are critical, it’s simply not enough. At what point do we look at the deeper, systemic challenges our officers face that change the impact of our work and ultimately affect our duty to protect and serve?

As violent crime rates increased in some U.S. cities over the last few years, CMPD saw year-over-year violent crime decreases, which we accomplished with fewer officers, fewer prosecutors and an exploding population. 

The data confirms that our work is making a difference, but at what cost? 

We continue to be challenged with strategizing how we can do more with less. 

Our 911-call response times are not where we want them to be, and we’ve been very transparent about that. 

In 2022, our 911-telecommunicators answered almost 1 million calls for service, an increase from 2021 which was accomplished with close to 20% fewer telecommunicators. 

Despite having fewer officers’ year over year, we have seen a 7% increase in arrests, an 8% increase in gun seizures, and a 5% decrease in violent crime. 

I’m certainly proud of our CMPD employees and their work, but I do not say any of this to be boastful. 

We are just learning to be as efficient as possible with the staff that we have. 

However, that is not a sustainable method for any organization, especially one responsible for the safety of a community. 

I know we have outstanding men and women within CMPD who are committed to keeping all of our citizens safe. Despite the challenges we have seen in the past few years, I commend those who have remained in the profession as well as those who have joined. As a young man out of college, I had no interest in becoming a police officer and even scoffed at the idea when recommended by a long-time friend. 

I can only imagine if the perception of policing back then was what it is now, I would have passed up on a noble and honorable profession and a wonderful career. 

Our challenge continues to be overcoming the narrative that police put on their uniform each day trying to figure out how they can harm people, specifically people of color. Imagine how difficult it is to convince anyone, much less minority candidates to join the profession when there is so much public scrutiny and controversy. 

This profession is bigger than any one of us, and when an officer violates the very laws we are sworn to uphold or mistreats someone they encounter, it impacts each and every officer across the country. Whether you believe this to be fair or not, it is the reality we face today. The impact is not just on our sworn employees, but also our non-sworn employees who are so vital to our profession. 

We are working tirelessly to recruit and retain the best men and women to be a part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. But it is going to require additional incentives, budget considerations and bold legislative changes within our systems. 

Changes that will not only encourage our existing employees who are working diligently to keep our community safe, but changes that also provide inspiration for people to enter the law enforcement field. 

Because I know without a doubt, this is still the greatest profession in the world and it is an immense privilege to serve at the best police department in the nation. Johnny Jennings is Chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, which employs more than 1,900 sworn officers, 500 civilian employees and 500 volunteers.

Repeat Violent Thug Demont Forte Released Again!

No one is surprised that Demont Forte has once again been arrested for assaulting a woman. 

Nor is anyone surprised that the Mecklenburg County Courts and liberal judge Jennifer Fleet would once again release this POS back on the streets of Charlotte.

You might recall Mr. Forte's brutal attack on a driver back in 2021 and then another arrest in 2022. (Both cases were dropped by Mecklenburg County DA Spencer Merriweather last years).

Now it seems the local mainstream media has discovered that this is normal within the 26th judicial district and they have now zeroed in on Demont Forte.

From WBTV - The Mecklenburg County District Attorney and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief have voiced their frustrations regarding low bonds set for violent offenders.

47-year-old Demont Forte was arrested Tuesday (January 31, 2023), facing charges of assault by strangulation, felony stalking, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault on a government official.

Judge Jennifer Fleet set his bond at $5,000, releasing him back onto the streets two days after his arrest. (Actually he was released less than 24 hours after his arrest).

Forte has previously served time in prison and has a slew of arrests on his record, dating all the way back to 1994 when he was convicted of manslaughter.

In recent years, court records that show he’s repeatedly faced charges of violent crimes against women.

“Those are serious offenses, but the most concerning part about this is that he was out of jail for having done the same thing to the same victim previously and was on an ankle bracelet when this occurred,” Daniel Redford, President of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, said.

Redford said it’s time for a change to bond policies in Mecklenburg County.

Just since 2020, Forte has been in and out of the Mecklenburg County jail at least six times, arrested for crimes including assault on a female and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Records show he was released on bond within days of his arrest each time.

Redford worries about the message it sends to police, victims, criminals and the community as a whole.

“Come to Mecklenburg County. Our jail cells are open,” he said. “There’s no real protections in place when a violent crime has occurred to ensure that these offenders are where they need to be.”

Police Chief Johnny Jennings has been vocal on the issue, discussing solutions just last month.

“We increase the accountability, have a better structure and take away some of the ambiguity that’s held in the magistrate’s office,” Chief Jennings said.

Until that happens, Redford says they will continue to fight.

“When you look at the totality of what this individual has done and the chaos he has inflicted, I think that there is no other reasonable outcome then for him to remain in jail pending the outcome of his court case,” he said. (Redford should have said cases)

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Trial Court Administrator’s Office told WBTV:

In response to your inquiry about Demont Forte and about bond determinations for specific pending cases involving the individual, judicial officials in the 26th Judicial District cannot comment on pending litigation or answer questions about specific criminal cases or decisions.

We can, however, share information regarding bond determinations and pretrial release, generally. The 26th Judicial District operates according to the U.S. Constitution, North Carolina Constitution, North Carolina General Statues and Local Rules.

The 26th Judicial District continues to work with local law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office to ensure judicial officials have the necessary information to make informed decisions about bond determinations and conditions of pretrial release.

Under the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and Article I, Section 27 of the Constitution of North Carolina, excessive bail shall not be required. Most of the relevant statutory bail provisions are in Articles 24 and 26 of Chapter 15A (Criminal Procedure Act) of the North Carolina General Statutes. Please note that there is no statutory authorization for preventative detention in North Carolina.

Article 26 contains G.S. 15A-534, which addresses procedures for determining pretrial release conditions. G.S. 15A-534 provides that, in granting pretrial release, the judicial official must impose a written promise, custody release, or unsecured bond “unless he determines that such release will not reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant as required; will pose a danger of injury to any person; or is likely to result in destruction of evidence, subornation of perjury, or intimidation of potential witnesses.” Because a secured bond is not forfeited for any reason other than failure to appear, imposition of a secured bond cannot function to protect against injury or prevent the destruction of evidence, subornation of perjury or intimidation of witnesses unless it results in detention.

In addition to the factors outlined in G.S. 15A-534, please refer to the 26th Judicial District’s Bail Policy for how decisions are made regarding bail and pretrial release conditions. Judges are independent officials who rely on the information presented during court hearings to make decisions. You may also find it helpful to refer to bail policy information on Mecklenburg County’s website. Additionally, since 2014, the 26th Judicial District has been engaged in bail reform efforts as part of the Safety and Justice Challenge. You can find more information regarding the specific initiatives and efforts in Mecklenburg County at the Safety + Justice Challenge website.

CP's Take regardless of the court administrator's legalese oration the fact is that had Forte been arrested in Gaston County and not appeared before liberal lawyer who could not make it in private practice like Jennifer Fleet, Mr. Forte would still be in jail and well on his way to a long prison term in Raleigh. 

We must accept that some people are beyond redemption and they should be permanently incarcerated. Mr. Forte has proven that he has no place in society and while we wish otherwise not doing so will find that we eventually arrest this man for a another homicide. 

By the way if you voted for Jennifer Fleet back in November you are part of the problem. 

Charlotte Car Jacking Suspects Are 14 15 and 12

From Charlotte's Local Media:

A 14-year-old, 15-year-old, and 12-year-old were arrested Monday night after a Honda CR-V with a 4-year-old inside was stolen, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.

At about 6:15 p.m., officers responded to a stranger (non-parental) kidnapping call for service. In a video released by CMPD after the incident, Eastway Division Capt. Stephen Fischbach said it happened in the parking lot of a laundromat. The laundromat is on Central Avenue near Briar Creek Road, according to the police report for the incident.

The 911 caller said that her SUV was stolen and her 4-year-old child was inside.

Just after 7 p.m. Monday, the stolen Honda crashed at North Graham Street and Rumple Road. The three suspects were arrested and taken into custody, and the 4-year-old was found unharmed.

The two teens were charged with first-degree kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle. The 15-year-old also faces a charge of felony flee to elude.

The 12-year-old has been charged with conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle.

Fischbach said the boy’s mother was inside the laundromat when it happened. He said surveillance video shows two of the suspects scoping out the car while the third stood as lookout. He said the two stole the car while the third left the scene on foot.

Police said after further investigation, the 4-year-old’s mother was also charged. Keeyamah Williams, 35, was cited for misdemeanor child abuse for leaving the child inside the car unsecured, Fischbach said.

Cedar's Take: First degree kidnapping is punished as a Class C felony. In North Carolina the law provides that a person convicted of a Class C felony receives a sentence between 44 and 182 months, depending on prior convictions. Figure that 44 months is pretty light. Bjut just enough to get the two felons out of High School and clear their record.

As for Mom being cited for a misdemeanor is not really being charged. Let's hope DSS gives her a full review. 

Different Day Same Story Charloot's Woke Agenda Is Killing The City

The tweet by local Charlotte media is the same "one person has died after a shooting in east Charlotte.

This time it is a Friday, just after 10:30 in the morning.

CMPD SUV's line the street within the 3600 block of Citiside Drive. The apartment complex two decades ago was a small secluded golf course with small homes built on the perimeter in the 1960's. Once a quiet forgotten green space located between the Plaza and Eastway Drive.

The surrounding "white" neighborhood was upended by Charlotte's City Council's "density saturation" WOKE agenda and the push for affordable housing. 

The golf course closed and the property "re-developed" with the blessing of Charlotte City Council in 2001. The developer even thanked Charlotte City Councilmember Nasif Majeed by naming a street within the project in his honor.

The local news tweets continue:

"Medic says they pronounced one person deceased.CMPD has identified the man shot to death Friday on Citiside Drive in east Charlotte.  Deandre Hagler, 22, was found shot to death inside a car."

Deandre Hagler Photo Courtesy of MCSO

Hagler was known to CMPD with priors including drugs and weapons charges 

A few hours later CMPD Officers arrested Treyvon Young.  

Treyvon Young Photo Courtesy of MCSO

The local media tweets add more narrow context: "Young is charged with Murder and Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Moving Vehicle".

Connecting Young to the shooting was easy since he was on probation and wearing an electronic monitor at the time of the murder.

By sunset, the last of the crime scene tape still flutters in the wind where once stood the driving range. Over the years the rental rates have declined and with that the demographics. The property owned by "absentee owners" in Provo Utah demand local managers keep the property fully rented with the idea that some rental dollars are better than no rental dollars. In short they'll rent to anyone.

Today burglaries have replaced birdies, and amature golfers have been replaced by carrer felons like Treyvon Young. 

The crimes of not replacing a divot have been replaced with crimes of armed robbery, assault, auto theft, and murder. 

Young had been arrested in February of last year on a charge of AWDWIKISI, and of no surprise, shooting into occupied vehicle and possession of a stolen car. He was released seven days after his arrest on an unsecured "cash free" bail. Free to continue his crime spree. 

Young's other arrest dates include: 12/06/2021, 02/17/2022, 02/10/2022, 06/22/2022, 12/15/2021.

If the justice system worked; Hagler would be alive and in jail and Young would be alive and also in jail. Yet, both would have a chance at changing their lives versus being on the "dirt side" of a golf course and the inside of a jail cell. 

Yet Charlotte City Council calls affordable housing progress.

Daniel Morgan Trial

The man charged in the death of CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin will make a court appearance this morning in Mecklenburg Superior Court Room 5310.

Daniel Morgan has been arraigned on several charges including involuntary manslaughter.

Several local news operations including WSOC's Joe Bruno are expected to be in the court room but, this court appearance is likely just a formality. 

Sources tell CP that a trial date will be set for sometime this summer unless there is a plea of guilty or a plea deal is worked out..

Morgan is also charged with three counts of felony AWDW, reckless driving to endanger, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, felony failure to move over for stopped emergency vehicles resulting in death or serious injury, and fictitious tag.

Morgan has been out on a $208,500.00 secured bond since his arrest in December of 2021.

UPDATE:

According to CP sources Morgan has entered a plea of "Guilty" to all charges and will be sentenced at a later date.

Second Update: The Local Paper is reporting that Morgan has been sentenced to 16-29 months the charges were consolidated for sentencing under the involuntary manslaughter conviction. 

It is uncertain how long Morgan will actually serve within the State of North Carolina Department of Corrections.

Morgan was taken into custody by Meck County Sheriffs Officers and transferred to the custody of the Meck County Jail.

In Texas "Fu*K Around Find Out" Is Rather Common

 A Texas grand jury will decide whether to criminally charge a Houston "taqueria" patron who shot dead a robber last week, police said.

The Houston Police Department announced Monday the 46-year-old customer has turned himself in and is cooperating with the investigation into the deadly shooting. He has not been named because he was not arrested or charged with any crime.

The attempted heist took place inside of The Ranchito #4 Taqueria around 11:30 p.m. Thursday January 5, 2023, when a suspect, identified as 30-year-old Eric Washington, entered the business, produced what appeared to be a gun and demanded that all patrons hand over their cash and wallets.

Eric Washington Deceased

The 46-year-old Houston diner, seen on surveillance video fatally shooting a robbery suspect, will go before a grand jury, which will decide whether to charge him.

An attorney for the unnamed armed patron, argued that his client was in fear of his life and acted in self-defense.

Surveillance video from the eatery shows customers cowering under tables as the masked and gloved perp, dressed in all black, walks around grabbing their possessions.

As the suspect heads for the exit with his loot, the 46-year-old diner sitting in a booth stands up, pulls out a handgun and opens fire on the robber, causing him to collapse.

.

Then, while standing directly over the suspect, the customer shoots him again at point-blank range, as seen in the video.

The armed good Samaritan then collected the stolen money and belongings from Washington and returned them to their owners before fleeing the taqueria.

Video from The Ranchito Taqueria shows Washington walking into the eatery brandishing what looks like a gun and demanding cash from patrons.

The short version of the video is here.

Washington was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later determined that the gun in his possession was not real.

After police issued a public plea asking the armed customer to come forward so they could interview him about the shooting, his attorney released a statement to the station ABC 13 defending his actions.

“In fear of his life and his friend’s life my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant,” the attorney wrote, stressing that in Texas “a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others and in defense of property.”

The unidentified diner has since met with prosecutors from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and with police homicide detectives.

Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to a grand jury, and the man’s attorney said they are “confident the Grand Jury will conclude that the shooting was justified under Texas Law.”

After the diner shot him multiple times, it was determined that the gun in Washington’s possession wasn’t real. 

The lawyer described the incident as “traumatic” to his client, and noted that “taking a human life is something he does not take lightly and will burden him for the rest of his life.”

Records indicate that the robbery suspect, Eric Washington, had an extensive criminal history and was out on bond at the time of the fatal shooting.

In 2015, Washington was convicted of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the fatal shooting of 62-year-old Hamid Waraich two years prior.

The good Samaritan and the rest of the patrons fled the taqueria before police arrived. KTRK

Washington was released on parole in 2021 after serving less than half of his sentence, but he was back behind bars in mid-December after being arrested for allegedly shoving and scratching his girlfriend.

Washington was charged in that incident with misdemeanor family violence and was subsequently released on a personal recognizance bond.

“Eric was an evil criminal that took joy in harassing and robbing innocent families,” Waraich’s son Sean Waraich told the station. “The individual at the taqueria is a true hero.”

Cedar's Take: 1. Stop releasing violent felons. 2. Stop granting early parole for violent felons. 3. Stop giving low or no bail to violent felons. Finally incarceration saves lives. PERIOD!

And should you wish to dig a little deeper, (Caution this is for only those students of law or the desperate to know how this "self-defense" argument in Texas may play out) CP offers this detailed exploration here.

Update: What's Up With the Rea Road Truck Stop?

Props to WSOC's Joe Bruno for noticing that Charlotte City Council has plans to discuss illegal truck parking at its annual retreat this month. 

Councilmembers say they have seen an increase in complaints about trucks illegally parking on ramps and streets, particularly in Districts 2 and 4.

CP Post from Mid-December regarding the same is here.

I-485 Outer and Rea Road Exit 59.

“It is very annoying and just so unattractive,” Antoinette Mingo, a District 4 resident, said.

Antoinette Mingo says she is fed up with trucks parking on the side of streets and ramps and not just because they are unappealing, but also because of safety.

“The trucks are no tiny vehicles. Those are huge vehicles,” she said. “It is a safety issue.”

The city thinks so, as well. Councilmembers Renee Johnson and Malcolm Graham have been leading voices on the issue.

“We have to address this. Our residents have to know we are addressing semi-truck parking, grass and litter issues, specifically in District 4,” Johnson said. “We have a huge, huge problem in the city.”

“I think it is an immediate concern,” Graham said.

The city identified seven areas as problem spots where tractor-trailers are frequently found including on ramps to Interstate 485 in the University area, the Interstate 85 Connector and West Sugar Creek north of West W.T. Harris Boulevard.

According to Housing and Neighborhood Services, code violations have jumped from under 300 in 2019 to 830 in 2022. According to HNS, Code Enforcement does not have the authority to tow and a citation can only be issued if a previous notice of violation has been issued. Staff members are canvassing in the areas of concern at least two days a week.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

According to HNS, CMPD has been issuing parking citations, but the fine is only $25 and has “had little effect on the situation.” HNS says potential solutions include educational campaigns, no parking signs and making it easier to report violations.

Mayor Vi Lyles says the issue mainly stems from drivers having to pull over after hitting a certain number of hours on the road.

Mingo wishes they would park at rest areas or designated locations. She’s glad the city is looking for solutions.

“I am saying it is a city, a county and state problem because they should be working together for their constituents,” she said.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation says trucks are not allowed to park on ramps and posting no-parking signs are not required by law.

The transportation department says truck parking on ramps has become an ongoing maintenance expense due to the degradation of pavement. NCDOT says there also may be drop-offs from the edge of the pavement to the shoulder.

According to NCDOT, unless a truck is disabled or directed by law enforcement, it should not be parked on a ramp at any time.

Charlotte City Council member Ed Driggs, the long serving "Potted Plant" hasn't responded to email requests regarding the continuing hazard. 

As Joe Bruno's story points out it is not just 485 and Rea Road, West Blvd on Ramp, Wilkinson near the Amazon Wearhouse and several locations on the east side of 485.

Driver's say that they hate rest areas and Flying "J" and Pilot truck stops are often full and charge a fee.to park usually 12 to 18 dollars in the Southeast. Both Rea and West Blvd. are low volume ramps during the small hours of the night and that also makes them attractive.

While CLT Council member Driggs is unresponsive NC DOT was quick to point out that the problem is the North Carolina SHP's responsibility: 

Because these tractor trailers are not construction vehicles as part of the (485 Toll Road) project, we do not have the authority to remove them from the shoulder. However, I have contacted the NC highway patrol and they are able to police that from happening. Hopefully they will stay on top of it. If you have any more comments or questions, please do not hesitate to respond.

Thanks,

Brian Davis

Resident Engineer

NC DOT in this regard has been surprisingly efficient, at least in a response. CP suspects that if left to CLTCC they will treat it as they do the panhandlers, that is do nothing.

Three Finger Jack (Kyre Mitchell) Sues CMPD

 

And then there's this from the Queen City News — A protestor who lost two fingers during a 2020 Charlotte protest has filed a lawsuit against the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The suit takes issue with how police handled the protests related to George Floyd, a man who died during a Minneapolis arrest on May 25, 2020. Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests.

Kyre Mitchell (aka 3 Finger Jack) alleges the city and police used tactics that injured peaceful protestors in Uptown during a May 30, 2020, incident.

Lawyers say Mitchell lost two fingers on his right hand when a flashbang device used by officers exploded on him. Mitchell also suffered deep burns to his palm.

Photo Courtesy of 3 Finger Jack

The suit alleges that Mitchell was “violently assaulted and permanently maimed by Defendants that night, who recklessly used weapons and other needlessly dangerous tactics under the guise of “crowd control” to suppress, deter, and injure Mr. Mitchell – and others who similarly sought to exercise their First Amendment right to peaceably protest police violence and brutality.”

Mitchell’s lawyers said CMPD used “tear gas, flashbangs and other chemical munitions” on Mitchell and others to “terrorize, retaliate and punish Mr. Mitchell and other protesters for peacefully protesting against systemic police violence.”

The suit named specific CMPD officers in the incident.

The Lawsuit as filed is here.

Cedar's Take: What the lawsuit doesn't say is that 3 Finger Jack was allegedly holding the "Flash Bang" device seemingly attempting to hurl it towards officers when the device activated.  Perhaps the device landed at his feet and within 1.5 seconds (Normal det time) he picked up the canister and it exploded.

His injuries appear to be rather catastrophic and indictive of someone holding the device when it activates. 

Across the country as the nightly protests occurred, protestors could be seen throwing tear gas canisters back at police. CMPD officers had deployed smoke and later tear gas and flash bang devices as the violence escalated.  

Unfortunately for 3 Finger Jack, "Smoke", "Tear Gas" and "Flash Bang" devices look somewhat similar and in his apparent effort mimic other protestors picked up a flash bang and not a smoke cannister.

Mitchell posing for the local paper

A cursory review of the lawsuit shows a number of typos and grammatical errors, however the opening quote from MLK is a nice touch. 

In the end the city will settle and life will go on.

Sidebar: A nod to 3 Finger Jack, if you ever get out west you need to spend some time in Oregon. It's that state between Washington and California that gets little attention. It is that lack of attention that makes Oregon cool, and up along the cascade range on the Pacific Crest Trail there are endless climbs and hikes. There you will also find Three Fingered Jack a group of peaks that are not quite 14's but worth the effort. 

Welcome to the (Hat Trick) Jungle

Early Sunday morning, CMPD reported a death investigation in the 900 block of Moretz Avenue, which is just west of North Graham.

Then 2 hours later CMPD reported a Homicide investigation in the 300 block of Blackhawk Road, which is near the Hidden Valley neighborhood.

Then around 4 p.m., CMPD said it was investigating a another homicide in west Charlotte as Officers responded to the 3500 block of West Tyvola Road.

Starting 2023 with a "Hat Trick" of Homicides - what could be more Charloot than the ongoing slaughter of humanity while democrat leadership endlessly yap about diversity, equity and legalized weed?

Just watch as Charlotte City Council continues their misguided "affordable housing" agenda in 2023 converting single family neighborhoods into density saturated nightmares.

Democrat's WOKE agenda will forever change the character of many of Charlotte's most attractive neighborhoods forcing a purge of wealth to outlying counties as crime surges and CMPD ranks continue to shrink.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Charloot!

Cedar Update: The first homicide may be ruled accidental. But let's be clear the shooting death of a juvenile is a homicide. A murder of our youth is caused by the African American Communities' culture of violence that embraces criminality and gunplay.

The leadership of Charlotte now largely people of color are so accustomed to violence that they have accepted this as a way of life. You will notice that not one of them will speak out about these three deaths, a "Hat Trick" of Violence on the first day of the New Year.

Their continued silence is deafening, and shall not go unnoticed.

Kids with Guns and Stolen Cars

The day after the official Christmas Holiday was a busy day for CMPD as Officers pursued suspects involved in violent crimes.

The first chase began shortly after 8:30 a.m Tuesday morning, when CMPD was alerted by a license-plate reader to a car that was associated with a reported armed robbery and carjacking the night before. 

CMPD Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Hulsey said the victim of the robbery told police he was robbed at gunpoint and his car was stolen. 

Shortly after the alert Officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The driver refused to pull over and a vehicle pursuit ensued as the vehicle was associated with a crime dangerous to life. Stop sticks were deployed on West Boulevard. The suspect vehicle crashed at West Boulevard and Donald Ross Road ending the pursuit.

The driver of the vehicle identified as Monet Darrisaw was pronounced deceased at the scene and the passenger was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The fatal chase comes after public outcry over police chases, but the department policy is clear:

In this case CMPD Officers had reasonable suspicion the driver or occupant had already committed a crime dangerous to life.

Hulsey said the pursuit lasted 10 to 12 minutes. Until, officers deployed a stop stick tire deflation device on West Boulevard. She said the car kept going until it crashed into a tree near West Boulevard and Romare Bearden Drive.

CMPD’s Internal Affairs is investigating the pursuit to ensure officers did follow policy, Hulsey said.

In the second case two juveniles were arrested after leading Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers on a car chase Tuesday afternoon.

Police say during an attempt to stop a stolen vehicle in the area of Beatties Ford Road and Brookshire Boulevard, the suspect vehicle refused to stop.

Officers disengaged and their helicopter monitored from overhead.

The suspect vehicle later crashed and engaged in a foot chase with the occupants, leading to the arrests of two juveniles.

Both juveniles were transported by Medic to the hospital with minor injuries.

CLT Solid Waste Service's Stunning Incompetence

It's not hard really, just update your website to tell taxpayers the garbage collection holiday schedule. 

Garbage collection happens on all holidays except MLK Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This year because Christmas falls on a Sunday and the Holiday is the following Monday there will be no garbage collection on Monday December 26th. In other words everyone's garbage will be collected curbside one day late. Simple right?

Unless you are the City of Charlotte staff who think Christmas is on Sunday December 26th and you put that on the City website. It's not, Christmas is on Sunday December 25th and the Christmas "work" Holiday is Observed on Monday December 26th. 

Cedar's Take: This is what happens when you promote and hire based solely on skin color and not experience, education or common sense.

I know, it is not a big deal, and yes it is just an honest mistake, or that it doesn't really matter because most people will put their trash out on the usual day and then wonder why the trash wasn't picked up. 

Some will blame being short staffed or COVID or whatever, and say its silly to be concerned about such an obvious error.

But ask yourself if they are making such stupid mistakes on the easy stuff what is the cost to taxpayers when they screw up the major stuff? If they can't get the date right on the information they provide the public, how do they submit payroll correctly? If they can't figure out Christmas how do they know the companies they contract with are submitting legitimate invoices?

Well they are 2 for 3 apparently good enough for government work.

It is only three days a year, how freaking hard can it be to get this correct?