Just Another Oh Damn Momment

You know you're driving along a little faster than normal then out of nowhere is a freaking pedestrian 2 hours after dark walking on the wrong side of the road and wearing all black. 

You see anyone in the picture below?

How about now?

Yep Oh DAMN! 

Keep in mind I'm running below the speed limit with Xenon HID 6000K headlights and Lexus adaptive feature which actually turns the headlights towards the direction of the turn.

Death by stupid was just 24 inches away. I swear she must be a cat because she absolutely used up one of her nine lives. The only thing white she had on were some Nike shoes and Apple ear buds.

Damn People! Stop doing this level of stupid!

Charlotte Domestic Terrorist Arrested In Atlanta

Charlotte Native Facing Terrorism Charges In Attack On Atlanta Police Training Site

ATLANTA, GA — 23 people are facing domestic terrorism charges for violent attack on a public safety training facility in Atlanta. Charlotte native, James Marsicano, is one of the 23.

Authorities said “violent agitators” attacked Atlanta police officers and construction equipment with Molotov cocktails, commercial-grade fireworks, bricks and large rocks.

Marsicano was arrested on Sunday and booked into jail Monday morning.

According to the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office website, 29-year-old Marsicano has been arrested five times in Mecklenburg County from June 2020 through September 2020. His Charges range from assault on a campus police officer, resisting an officer, and trespassing.

From the Local Paper:

Georgia authorities arrested and charged a Charlotte activist — and 22 others — with domestic terrorism after the group breached a proposed police and fire training center in Atlanta Sunday. 

DeKalb County police records show the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Jamie Marsicano, a longtime local activist, with a group of protesters who infiltrated the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center — dubbed “Cop City by its opponents. 

Those arrested are accused of throwing bricks, flaming Molotov cocktails and fireworks at equipment and police, according to the Atlanta Police Department. Marsicano’s last name was misspelled on various police records, which also appear to use the incorrect gender identity. 

In a biography published previously on The Funambulist, Marscicano wrote they are “a white trans femme organizer in Charlotte who is fiercely committed to supporting Black trans femmes, prison abolition, and destabilizing all forms of oppression.” 

Marsicano is listed as a second-year law student and dean fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Marsicano has an undergraduate degree from Brown University and worked with The Bail Project, an organization that distributes money to help people in poverty post bail.

Mariscano was a core organizer for Charlotte Uprising, a group that led police brutality protests in 2020, and one of two activists who turned themselves in for charges related to the protests over George Floyd’s killing by Minnesota police. 

WHAT IS ‘COP CITY’? 

The proposed center is a $90 million, 85-acre training space, according to the Atlanta Police Foundation. It will include classrooms, a shooting range, a mock city and a driving course. 

The project will also “hyper-militarize law enforcement,” according to the Defend the Atlanta Forest Movement. 

It will jeopardize the South River Forest and its surrounding Black and Hispanic communities, according to a letter a coalition of environmental groups sent to the Atlanta City Council. 

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in late January the tract is filled with rubble and overgrown with invasive species from when it was cleared for a former state prison farm decades ago. 

The first phase of the center, funded by the Atlanta Police Foundation according to city officials, is expected to open later this year. 

DOMESTIC TERRORISM CHARGES 

Police detained 35 of Sunday’s protesters, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations charged all 23 arrestees with domestic terrorism.

In January, seven people were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism and criminal trespass the same day one protester — Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, also known as “Tortuguita” — was shot and killed by police, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. 

Officers found Tortuguita inside a tent when he suddenly shot one trooper in the abdomen after ignoring officers’ verbal commands, according the GBI. Last year, police arrested and charged five people with domestic terrorism and other charges after they committed “violent acts and trespassing” at the site, according to the GBI.

As of 5:00 PM DeKalb County Sheriff was still holding Marscicano

Eastway Division Fatal Hit and Run

The "Official" City of Charlotte statement on last Wednesday's attempted traffic stop that resulted in the loss of another innocent citizen:

Fatal Hit & Run Crash Investigation in the Eastway Division

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash in the Eastway Division.

CMPD Public Affairs cmpdpio@cmpd.org 3/6/2023

​Charlotte, N.C. – (Monday, March 6, 2023) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash in the Eastway Division.

On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 7:34 pm, a CMPD officer attempted to stop a 2007 Mercedes S550 for a registration violation on N. Sharon Amity Road near Central Ave. 

The vehicle failed to stop and fled in a reckless manner, striking two vehicles near the intersection of N. Sharon Amity Rd and Tarrywood Ln.  

Upon arriving at the crash scene, officers located the 2007 Mercedes-Benz with extensive damage, a 1998 Toyota Camry flipped onto its roof, and a damaged 2021 Chevrolet Spark in the roadway. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz was not on scene and fled on foot. 

The driver and passenger of the Toyota were transported to Atrium Main with serious injuries. At 8:17 p.m., the passenger of the Toyota, Binh Ha Nguyen (DOB 04/04/1954), was pronounced deceased. Mr. Nguyen's next of kin has been notified of his death. The driver of the Chevrolet was transported to Atrium University with minor injuries.

This is an active, ongoing investigation.  As further information develops it will be released by CMPD Public Affairs.  

Any witnesses to the crash, or anyone with information concerning the crash, should contact Detective Jamieson at (704) 432-2169 Ext# 3 or Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600. The public can also visit the Crime Stoppers website at http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.   The report number for this case is 20230301-1934-02.

Cedar's Take: Boots on the street can't catch a break. Follow policy people get killed and the bad guys get away. Don't follow policy catch the bad guys but there's still little doubt there's a good chance innocent people are going to get killed.

The level of lawlessness in Charlotte is insane. I can not pull up to a traffic light and not see at least one expired or fake tag. 

The number of people some on Charlotte City Council who think we should just leave people alone is shocking. There are at least 3 members of Charlotte City Council besides Braxton Winston who think CMPD should not make traffic stops for expired tags.

Seriously what the hey is going on here?

File this under just STUPID

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is looking for a man awaiting a murder trial after he reportedly removed his ankle monitor early Tuesday morning.

Willie James, 33, was originally placed on the ankle-monitoring system in 2018 when he was charged with killing 25-year-old Matthew Duke Gibbons in front of a northwest Charlotte home. He was also charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Fake Tag and Fleeing Driver Leaves One Dead Another Seriously Injured

One person is dead another injured after a suspect fleeing from Police crashed into another car on North Sharon Amity in east Charlotte.

According to CMPD

On March 1, 2023, at approximately 7:30 p.m., an officer in the Eastway Division attempted to stop a vehicle for displaying a fictitious tag. 

Upon activating his lights and siren, the suspect vehicle sped away from the officer at a high rate of speed. 

The officer per CMPD’s pursuit policy, turned off his lights and siren and did not pursue the fleeing vehicle.

Tarrywood Lane and North Sharon Amity Road

A review of body-worn camera footage shows the officer followed protocol in cutting his lights and siren as soon as the suspect fled in an attempt to prevent harm.

The suspect chose to continue to drive recklessly, traveling approximately a half mile before striking another vehicle at Sharon Amity Road and Tarrywood Lane.

The driver of the suspect vehicle jumped and ran following the crash and is still outstanding at this time.

Two of the occupants in the vehicle that was struck were treated by MEDIC on scene. One was transported to Atrium Main with life-threatening injuries. At 8:17 p.m. that victim was pronounced deceased.

Cedar's Take: One of every ten cars on Charlotte streets are either stolen, has fake, expired or stolen tags, has a driver with outstanding warrants, the car has no insurance, no inspection, the driver has no license or the car has been in Charlotte for more than 90 days on an out of state (usually expired plate). One in ten is frankly conservative based on the hit runs accidents everyday in Charlotte and my personal observation and it is likely more.

The lawlessness is out of control and now once again it has cost a innocent citizen their life.

The potted plants on Charlotte City Council need to demand citizen accountability. The state needs to address this issue and increase the penalties. Every non compliant car should be impounded and not released until back taxes paid and the vehicle and driver are properly licensed.

CMPD needs to hunt these people down and take their cars before they drive them. Offering a $100 per car cash bounty might be a step in the right direction.

The problem is pervasive and amount of revenue lost is in the millions and the lives taken are priceless. 

Any suggestions?

The Slow Death of Charloot's Hoodmall Continues

Three shootings since Christmas brings an abrupt closure to Apple's iPhone store at Northlake Mall.

Charlotte's famed and defamed "HoodMall" has become a "black meca" in recent years attracting crowds of African American teens, thugs and hoodrats forcing stores to vacate and CMPD to ramp up patrols. 

And now another retailer has had enough:

So long Apple. And many are wondering why it took them so long.

While CMPD Officers enjoy the secondary hours and pay they too have grown tired of the violence and vibe of the once attractive mall that showcased a broad range of the nation's most sought after retailers.

Shootings are so common that local television news station WBTV gave just 35 words to Tuesday's gunfight:

No one was injured after shots were fired Tuesday evening outside the Macy’s at Northlake Mall, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Police said a fight broke out that escalated to shots being fired.

But it is not just shootings that have sent patrons fleeing:

Violence is as common as shoplifting at Northlake Mall.

To make matter's worse Northlake owners filed for bankruptcy and court appointed management has tried their best to control the insanity.

The property has been under contract for months but the sale postponed again and again.

Mall management is in a spiral of denial here is their "About" section of their webpage:

Northlake Mall is the premier retail destination for the thriving affluent communities in the North Charlotte metropolitan area. Dillard’s, Macy’s, Belk, AMC’s 14-screen cinema, plus 140 retailers and restaurants make Northlake Mall a popular lifestyle destination. The friendly and comfortable environment also features an interactive Play Area, a Coffee Court, a sports court and free Wi-Fi.

Spend the day shopping, dining, and enjoying a movie. Northlake Mall’s retail offerings feature an assortment of merchandise to suit every taste. Retailers include Apple, Dry Goods, DTLR, Forever 21, H&M, Finish Line, and Soma. Dining options range from a quick bite in the Food Court to sit-down restaurants like Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and PF Chang’s China Bistro. Northlake Mall is easily accessible for Charlotte residents and visitors, conveniently located just 10 miles north of Uptown Charlotte on Interstate 77 and directly off of Interstate 485.

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.