Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Swannanoa Fire & Rescue

Those who know me understand that I'm “American by birth, Southern by the grace of God and Carolina raised by the luck of fate” and that I've spent most in fact nearly all of my youth stomping around the North Carolina mountains.

I've climbed, hiked, Kayaked, camped, fished and tempted fate on most every mountain, river, gold medal trout stream, trail, and rock I could fine. 

So much of what happened during hurricane Helene in late September of this year was showing up on my iphone in real time. I understood where to look and who to ask. The responses were both troubling and heartbreaking.

And then there's this Facebook post from Swannanoa Fire & Rescue:

We promised the story the same day this photo was posted, but it has been busy.

Photo Courtesy Swannanoa Fire & Rescue

As described by Firefighter/EMT, Kristie Tolley with Swannanoa Fire & Rescue:

"As I waited for the task force team (Task Force 11, assigned to Swannanoa as additional resources before the storm hit), they brought over a woman they had just rescued from the water. 

She was shivering, cold, and crying, and as soon as we locked eyes, we both said each other’s names. 

Although it had been over 8 years since we last saw each other, we recognized each other instantly. She fell into my arms, overwhelmed by what she had been through and terrified that her boyfriend, who had been swept away, might be gone. 

I helped her get dry and warm, staying by her side as she was checked over medically. 

Miraculously, while we waited on EMS, the task force team brought her boyfriend back safely as he had also been rescued. 

Through her tears, she kept saying, “I’m so glad it’s you. I’m so glad you’re here.” 

In that moment, it wasn’t just about the rescue—it was about being there when it truly mattered. It felt like something only God could have orchestrated."

On to 2025 Happy New Year y'all!

CP

Sunday, December 29, 2024

CMPD OIS Coyote Joe's


From CMPD:

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officer-involved shooting in the 4600 block of Wilkinson Boulevard.

On Saturday, December 28, shortly after 11:00 p.m., officers responded to a situation involving a male subject with a firearm outside of Coyote Joe’s in the 4600 block of Wilkinson Boulevard. An officer perceived an imminent deadly threat and discharged his firearm, striking the subject.

The male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. A firearm possessed by the subject was located at the scene. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation. A parallel Internal Affairs investigation is also being conducted.

Per standard protocol, the officer who discharged their weapon will be placed on paid administrative leave.

Detectives with CMPD’s Homicide Unit responded to the scene along with Crime Scene Search. Representatives from CMPD’s Operations Command, Internal Affairs, CMPD’s Executive Staff, the Charlotte Fire Department, MEDIC, the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation also responded.

Cedar's Take:

This is a tough one. Christmas week, everyone in a holiday mood, at a place Mrs. Cedar financed after convincing her bank president the late Jim Burt to take a chance on a country bar in the heart of the hood of all places. She convinced Jim and his wife to sign up for a line dancing class and the rest is history.

Prayers for all involved. There are no winners in these things. More as facts become known and the story develops.


Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Greensboro Officer Michael Horan EOW

Greensboro Officer Michael Horan responded to a call for service regarding a man with a weapon in a Food Lion grocery store. Upon arrival Officer Horan tried to “de-escalate” the situation inside the store and that cost Officer Horan his life.

chased the suspect forcing his vehicle off the road using a pit maneuver.



Usual suspect and no one is surprised. No mercy!

Daniel Sansone Charged with Murder

 

Daniel Edward Sansone Photo Courtesy MCSO

CMPD detectives have charged Daniel Sansone age 29 with the murder of Daniel Edward Sansone, Jr. (Their relation if any seems to be uncertain at this time.)

The man (Sansone, Jr.) was taken to the hospital on Sunday with severe injuries, bruises and bleeding from the head and Sansone was arrested and placed in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff.

The man died from his injuries Monday and Sansone's charges were elevated to Murder.

Cedar's Take:

Daniel Sansone has more than 30 prior charges and many of them for violent crimes. Yet the Mecklenburg County District Attorney has managed to dismiss everyone of them. 

His arrest earlier this year along with his violent history and failure to appear should have prevented bail from being granted, but the courts released him once again. 

Cedar's Opinion - Incarceration saves lives!

Where are they now?

Sunday, December 22, 2024

The Slow Death of Park Road Shopping Center

If you are Charlotte native, you've come to accept change.

Park Road Shopping Center opened up on November 15, 1956 and was Charlotte's very first open area-type shopping mall. 

Over the years tenants have changed, the movie theaters downsized. But the main anchor tenants Harris Teeter, Walgreen's, Blackhawk Hardware and Michaels have managed to hold on.

Sir Edmond Halley's is still in the back lot and some of the newer restaurants are really pretty good.

And of course there's the crime. Reports of a senior being robbed at gunpoint seemed to be an outlier and the somewhat expected usual number of theft from autos.

But then Christmas last year the toy store Harper and Skyler Toys and Sweets was robbed in a brazen smash and grab just before Christmas. 

The usual idiot mindset of Charlotte of course was no big deal, they have insurance so its ok. But anyone in retail will tell you that insurance won't cover the loss of sales during during the busy Christmas shopping season. Surprising to CP that they are still in business.

While the Mayor and the property management company that runs the shopping center claim crime is no different at the Park Road Shopping Center than at other malls that has not been the perception.

Now people have noticed that the US Post Office lobby is locked except during the hours when the service window is attended. That means your post office box and the self-service postage machine are no longer available after hours.


No one is saying exactly what happened but the US Postal Service mentions the safety of their employees and acts of vandalism. And in the same statement they speak of unsafe and unsanitary conditions. (Read some homeless person dropped a deuce in the lobby).

Panhandlers are of course now a common sight at the intersection of Woodlawn Road and Park Road. This was not the case when Charlotte's Mayor Vi Lyles took office.

A quick check of crime stats for the shopping center shows 17 crimes reported in the last 30 days at the shopping center. Kept in mind this is from data released by the City of Charlotte and CMPD. A few weeks ago CMPD stopped providing data to Crime Mapping the on-line reporting service used by most of the nation's police departments. 

Let's face it the vibe at Park Road has changed. Post COVID Charlotte Uptown, SouthPark, Carolina Place and the Park Road Shopping Center are not the same. CMPD Officers in low crime areas like Ballantyne and Myers Park are basically nowhere to be found. Still reports of daily shootings and gun fire nearby are quietly dismissed by local media.

In fact this story hasn't been covered by the local media except The Charlotte Ledger. But what we really are starting to notice is that Charlotte's "wedge" of prosperity is shrinking and areas once considered safe are no more and that includes the Park Road Shopping Center.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

California Resident Renee Jewel Ferrari Charged With Trafficking Held Under $1,000,000.00 Bond

Bakersfield California resident Renee Jewel Ferrari was arrested by CMPD Wednesday afternoon and charged with two counts of trafficking cocaine and and two counts of trafficking marijuana. 


Renee Ferrari Photo Courtesy MCSO

She is currently being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail under a $1 million dollar bond.

According to sources Ferrari was in possession of more than 10 pounds of Marijuana and nearly a pound of Cocaine at the time of her arrest.

December 19, 2024 Update:

Meck County Judge lowered her bail to $500,000 on she remains in the Meck County Jail.

Charlotte Douglas Airport police checking inbound baggage from an LA fight connecting through Denver with a K-9. The K-9 alerted on luggage belonging to Ms. Ferrari. Ferrari was later questioned at baggage claim.

According to court records officers were granted a search warrant and confiscated nearly 6 pounds of Cocaine and 23 pound of Marijuana. 

Renee Ferrari Photo Via Facebook 

Renee Ferrari remains behind bars. Her next court appearance date has not been reported.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

2nd CMS Bus Shooter Arrested

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Officers have now arrested Paris Lewis-Bynum for his part in Monday's school bus shooting. Earlier Lamarius Ramel Anthony was arrested on Tuesday for his part in the shooting and was released on an unsecured bond 3 hours later.


Bynum is charged with the following:

Possession of a Stolen Firearm
Possession of a Firearm by Felon
Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill
Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle


In the past Byrum has been arrested 6 times facing more than 22 charges. All but one of those charges were dismissed by the Mecklenburg County DA Spencer Merriweather.

Past charges include:

STOLEN FIREARM AS A FELON
FAIL TO HEED LIGHT OR SIREN 11/22/2020 DISMISSED REASON JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY
FLEE/ELUDE ARREST W/MV (M) 11/22/2020 DISMISSED REASON JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY
NO OPERATORS LICENSE 11/22/2020 DISMISSED REASON JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY 
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
PWISD COCAINE
BREAK OR ENTER A MOTOR VEHICLE
FELONY CONSPIRACY
BREAK OR ENTER A MOTOR VEHICLE
RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER
PROBATION VIOLATION - FEL OUT OF COUNTY GIVEN ADDITIONAL COMSERV
BREAKING AND ENTERING MOTOR VEHICLE (2 COUNTS) 4/26/2023  
FELONY CONSPIRACY
POSSESS MARIJUANA
MISDEMEANOR LARCENY
ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY 6/11/2022 DISMISSED NO REASON
RECKLESS DRIVING TO ENDANGER - 6/19/2021 REASON EFFICIENCY
HIT AND RUN PROPERTY DAMAGE - 6/19/2021 DISMISSED

Prior convictions include:

Possession of a Firearm by Felon 3/28/2024 Felony Class H (Mecklenburg County)
Fleeing to Elude Arrest  5/228/2023 Felony Class H (Cabarrus County)
Hit and Run 5/28/2023 (Cabarrus County)
Possess Stolen Vehicle 5/28/2023 Felony Class H (Cabarrus County)
Resisting Arrest 5/28/2023 Misdemeanor Class 2 (Cabarrus County)
Drivers License Revoked 5/28/2023 (Cabarrus County)

Cedar's Take:

Incarceration saves lives. This thug is on probation but North Carolina's probation officers are untrained, underpaid, understaffed and under motivated. In this case they had not a clue what this pos was up to.

Additionally the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Court is a disaster. Their ability to perform the basic duties of the clerk are without a doubt unacceptable. They have failed to provide probation officers and NC DOC timely information with delays of up to six months.

December 20, 2024 Update:

Based on evidence gathered Paris Lewis-Bynum has additionally been charged with:

BREAKING/ENTERING MOTOR VEHICLE
LARCENY OF A FIREARM
FELONY CONSPIRACY
H/I FELONY PROBATION VIOLATION

He has been denied bail at this time.