Charloot's Clown Car Rolls On

Yesterday Johnny Jennings notched a small victory with the clown posse turning out to voice their support for the embattled police chief and the mayor tearfully offering a public apology.

You couldn't make this up if you tried. 

The police chief is apparently butt hurt over some mean tweets and rather than fill out a hurt feelings report and moving on, the leader of Charlotte's thin blue line calls Charlotte City Council and threatens to sue the city, which results in a full blown cryfest with more hugging than a Down Syndrome Convention. 

So what horrible insults to Jennings manhood were said, did the former council member disparage the man's mother? Perhaps liabled and slandered the man? Were the text messages racist? Spiteful? Threatened his wife and children with violence and physical harm? 

How bad are they? What could someone say that would cause City Council to vote to pay this innocent man a reported $300,000.00? 

The back story from a local news station without the endless popups that make the dozen or so text messages unreadable:

The day before the first message was sent, Jennings and Bokhari met, and there was an impasse on this issue.

The contentious messages started the morning of the budget straw votes on May 30.

Bokhari texted Jennings:

“I just want to reiterate. Whatever happens from this point forward is not personal.”

Jennings responded:

“That can be a fine line. As long as you stick to that, we’re fine. Just know that I don’t plan on sitting on my hands either. Hopefully, you will reconsider this and let me make the decisions for my agency.”

Bokhari replied:

“I love you dearly as a friend, and always will, but we are locked in on this path now. I hate this so much but tried everything I could think of to make another path. I’ll pray for you and the dept.”

Jennings then said:

“Not sure of your plan, but it sounds like you’re getting ready to get personal. I hope what you are getting ready to do is worth it for you. It’s a shame that you would resort to this because we disagree on the topic. I would never do that to you.”

The last message that day was this one from Bokhari:

“I promise you I am very good at separating personal versus business. But when I call out why something I believe should happen isn’t happening- why it’s stuck- that points to you and I have to call that out. That is NOT personal, though, that’s business. If I said you just don’t care about the morale implications of this decision, that would be personal, which I have no intention of doing.”

Jennings did not respond.

Later that night, Bokhari launched his campaign to get outer carrier vests for officers.

“I am doubling down on my commitment to find the half a million dollar one time investment from other sources in the city budget and will be applying maximum pressure to enable our rank and file officers to wear them when they are out protecting us,” Councilman Bokhari said in May 30th budget meeting.

Bokhari would go on to launch a website and petition about the issue. It was updated throughout the summer.

On June 14, CMPD released a statement from Jennings explaining his position on the outer carrier vests.

“The outer vest has a military-style appearance that contradicts the community-oriented policing philosophy I have championed for years,” he said.

Bokhari texted Jennings a couple of weeks later on July 6. This was their first message since Bokhari’s campaign started. 

“You’ve made a terrible error in judgment, my friend. I hate what comes next.”

Jennings didn’t respond, but an hour later, Bokhari sent him this message: 

“As your friend, I want you to know what happens next: I’ll be demanding your resignation starting Monday. I’ll be hammering you from the press, the private sector, the foundations, the General Assembly, Congress, and several high-profile national organizations. I’ll put maximum pressure on the city manager to fire you from all those angles as well. I may not ultimately win - but I will not stop and it will cripple your legacy you’ve worked so hard for. Just a final bit of food for thought. You have 36 hours to call it all off by compromising in some small way. Otherwise, it’s in God’s hands. I want you to know I still have a lot of love for you as a friend. But this is much more important than any of that. I’ve given you several weeks while I’ve been restrained going only 10%. That’s all over starting Monday morning unless you start seeing the light and being reasonable to find middle ground for the rank and file, you have a sacred responsibility to support. As I said - I may not win - but I was blessed with a set of skills that I can promise you will be very uncomfortable to experience. This will be my last communication.”

Jennings didn’t respond.

Bokhari’s petition gathered thousands of signatures and on the Aug. 1, the chief changed his tune.

CMPD HR sent an email saying all officers now have the option to wear outer carrier vests as a preventive health measure.

The move was celebrated by Bokhari and the Fraternal Order of Police, which supported the former councilman’s efforts.

Bokhari sent one more message on Aug. 5.

“Thank you for allowing more access to vests. I know this was a difficult decision but it means a lot.”

Jennings gave a thumbs-up to the message.

CMPD Chief "Butt Hurt" Over Mean Texts

This past week Charlotte City Council decided to give the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Chief a $300,000 bonus. Next week Council will select 100 lucky Charlotte Residents to pay the bill. Don't worry if you're selected you'll only have to hand over $3,000.00 of your hard earned pay check dollars.

This is because the City Council voted in closed session Monday night to preemptively settle a potential lawsuit by Johnny Jennings.

According to local press, Jennings was upset over threatening text messages he received last year from former City Council member Tariq Bokhari. Bokhari said in the texts he would try and get Jennings fired and work to "cripple his legacy."

At the time, the two men were in a fight over whether CMPD officers should be allowed to wear outer carrier protective vests.

Jennings had not filed a lawsuit before the settlement was voted upon.

WSOC and Joe Bruno first reported on the closed session and settlement talks last week.

Jennings has reportedly said the disclosure of the text messages damaged his reputation and could have cost him future opportunities after he retired, according to people familiar with the issue.

Council members have discussed paying Jennings as much as $300,000.

A dispute after a tragedy

Last year, Bokhari wanted Jennings to allow officers to wear outer-carrier vests that could provide them more protection. Bokhari had pushed for the vests for roughly two years, but he ramped up his pressure campaign on the chief after a wanted man shot eight law enforcement officers who were trying to serve a warrant in east Charlotte. Four were killed, including one CMPD officer, in the deadliest day in Charlotte’s law enforcement history.

The vests — which feature pockets for ammunition and other gear, similar to soldiers’ battle dress — were already used by units like SWAT and vice officers.

But Jennings said at the time the vests wouldn’t necessarily offer any additional protection, noting that three of the officers killed in April had been wearing them. He also said it was a “military-style appearance that contradicts the community-oriented policing philosophy I have championed for years.”

That prompted Bokhari to increase public and private pressure against the chief, culminating in a series of private text messages in which Bokhari told Jennings he would be demanding his resignation and "cripple his legacy."

In early July 2024, he texted Jennings that the chief had “made a terrible error in judgment, my friend. I hate what comes next.”

He continued: “As your friend, I want you to know what happens next. I’ll be demanding your resignation starting Monday. I’ll be hammering you from the press, the private sector, the foundations, the general assembly, congress and several high-profile national organizations.”

He said he would put maximum pressure on the city manager to fire Jennings.

Bokhari acknowledged he might not win, but wrote: “I will not stop and it will cripple your legacy you’ve worked so hard for. Just a final bit of food for thought. You have 36 hours to call it all off by compromising in some small way. Otherwise it’s in God’s hands.”

In Charlotte’s form of government, council members are generally supposed to voice their concerns through the city manager, to whom nearly all city employees report. Council members only directly vote to hire or fire the city manager, city attorney and city clerk. And council members aren’t supposed to threaten to destroy an employee’s reputation.

Jennings and the city began negotiating a possible financial settlement weeks ago. Council members first discussed the issue during a closed session last week. That was first reported by WSOC.

Bokhari is no longer a City Council member. He resigned last month to take a high-level job at the Federal Transit Administration in the Trump administration.

Cedar's Take:

Bokhair is a pompous POS. Neither a friend to Charlotte or the GOP he is a hubris unengaged politician who deserves neither votes nor respect.  Yes, he promoted outer carry vests but so did most of Charlotte. His legacy will be that he is a self serving idiot who quit the job he was elected to in favor of a federal gig while sticking Charlotte residents with an unnecessary $300,000.00 bill.

As for Jennings he is nothing but a race card playing yes man. He's also in it only for himself. 

I have friends and family with CMPD who admit he's better than Rodney but worse than Putney.  They also acknowledge he has the same MO of do nothing just collect the check as most large metro department chiefs out of touch with zero command presence. 

Thin skin and little smarts, if JJ was had any sense he'd fill out a "hurt feelings report" and we'd just move on. Rather he's just jerk enough to take a check equal to pulling four seasoned officers off the streets pocket the money and expect it will be business as usual.

Seriously if JJ takes the check he's out in six months, but before you do your "happy dance" rumor has it that Anne Kirkpatrick of New Orleans has already expressed an interest. 

CMPD Your Perception of Crime is the Problem

CMPD is going all in on the crime is down mantra and now they are blaming your perception. 

You see crime is not as bad as you think it is just your perception is off. Seriously you need glasses! 

From CMPD:

Repeat offenders can have a huge impact on the perception of crime in Charlotte.

By increasing incident and victimization numbers, habitual offenders inflate crime statistics while, in reality, multiple incidents are the work of one or a few individuals. Breaking and/or Entering a Motor Vehicle is one type of incident that CMPD often encounters repeat offenders.

On April 9, the University City Division’s Auto Crime Task Force arrested Sidney Truesdale, 41, on warrants obtained in 16 cases. Truesdale was previously arrested by CMPD on March 28 for two counts of Breaking and/or Entering a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon and Larceny of a Firearm.

The total list of charges for 18 cases from the University City Division are:

· Breaking and/or Entering a Motor Vehicle—25 counts

· Larceny of a Motor Vehicle—two counts

· Felony Larceny—three counts

· Larceny of Choice in Action—one count

· Larceny of a Firearm—four counts

· Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon—three counts

· Misdemeanor Larceny—two counts

Truesdale has an extensive criminal history which includes an additional 17 pending Breaking and/or Entering a Motor Vehicle charges.

In total, Truesdale has been charged with 42 counts of Breaking and/or Entering a Motor Vehicle since 12/23/2024.

The investigation into these cases is active and ongoing. Anyone with information can report it anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or Charlotte Crime Stoppers.

Cedar's Take:

This is insulting - I don’t give a truck what the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department PIO says, crime is not a perception problem in CLT. 

8 victims having their cars broken into is still 8 taxpayers who don’t give a truck if it was 8 crooks or 1. It is still 8 crimes.

Openly saying crime is a perception problem is wrong misguided and total bull shit.

Every 10th vehicle in Charlotte has an expired or a fake plate which translates into no safety inspection, no insurance, no valid driver's license and unpaid property taxes. This is not a perception problem this is an enforcement problem.   

Cars routinely drive more than 80, 90, 100, 100+ on our interstate highways. This is not a late night 2am street take over this is 9 am on a Monday they just don't care because there are no police. This is not a perception this is a fact.

I get it there are not enough CMPD officers to write greenies. There are not enough free units to answer calls about kids on electric bikes doing wheelies in the middle of Carmel Road at 5 pm. I get it the judges in this town refuse to hold criminals accountable so why even bother to arrest anyone?

I get it, we all get it. But it is not our perception that is off it's CMPD's command perception that the taxpayers are stupid. We aren't and we've had enough!

Thugs Killing Thugs

What our police and the news media won't tell you may be more troubling than the crime itself.

On Thursday, April 10, shortly after 12 p.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call for service in the 7100 block of Wallace Road.  

Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim with a gunshot wound. MEDIC pronounced the victim deceased on the scene.

Four days later CMPD ID'd the victim as Jeremiah Cunningham, 21.

Jeremiah Cunningham, 21 Photo Courtesy MCSO

What they aren't telling you is that Cunningham had a history of violence and had been released from the Mecklenburg County Jail less than 2 hours prior to his murder. Cunningham had been held under a $7,500 bond since his arrest on March 8, 2025. His original bond was modified on April 7, 2025 and he was released at 10:21 a.m. on April 10, 2025 and he was gunned down just after12 noon.

On April 16, 2025 detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) identified Jamykel Blackmon, 19, as a suspect in this case and obtained warrants for his arrest.

That same day CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and the CMPD SWAT Team located and arrested Blackmon without incident.

Blackmon is charged with Murder. His priors include multiple weapons charges. In each case his bond was set at minimal amounts or was unsecured. 

These are not one time felons who make a mistake and should be given a second chance. They are career felons with zero chance of redemption. 

Their mugshots only represent the crimes for which they have been charged. The complete list of crimes of violence and theft they have commited are unknown, but it would be reasonable to assume the list is rather tiresome.

Why does this matter? Thugs killing Thugs seems like a win - win, or does it? Sure it is convenient and as long as no one else is injured it all seems to work out for the better. But if you look past the body count the trouble is the costs to society.

First the police response in unreal. Fire, Medic a swarm of patrol officers, homicide detectives, command staff, legal staff. Then add the DA's office, courts, coroner, crime scene techs and lab, SWAT and VCAT. Buy the time this thug is arrested taxpayers have north of $250,000 in resources and compensation. 

Anyone who knew these two understood they were thugs with no future and that they both should be incarcerated. Whatever the cause society should not have be burdened with them. Had the courts done their job both would be alive today. In jail but alive.

Another Charloot Homicide Hat Trick! - All Glory is Fleeting

On Thursday CMPD went all in on "Yay Me"

"Today, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) announced a strong start to 2025, demonstrating the effectiveness of its proactive policing initiatives and unwavering commitment to community safety. Citywide crime fell 6% overall during the first quarter of the year. This includes a notable 17% drop in violent crime and a 4% decrease in property crime compared to the same period in 2024."

The self praise continued:

"These positive results, covering data from January 1 to March 31, 2025, underscore the CMPD’s ongoing commitment to proactive, data-driven policing and community collaboration to maintain public safety across Charlotte's 411-square-mile jurisdiction."

But wise men understand that "All Glory is Fleeting" and that self praise is nearly always followed by stunning failure:

48 Hours later:

On Saturday, April 12, shortly before 10:30 p.m., 

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 300 block of E. Trade St. in the Central Division.

Officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Injury call for service in the 300 block of E. Trade St. Upon arrival, officers discovered one victim who had sustained apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was transported with life-threatening injuries and pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital.

Qualo Trevon Daniels, 31 Photo Courtesy MCSO

The victim in this case has been identified as Qualo Trevon Daniels, 31

On Sunday, April 13, shortly before 2 a.m., 

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 4800 block of Wallingford St. in the Westover Division.

Officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Injury call for service in the 4800 block of Wallingford St. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim with stab wounds. 

Stanley Williams 37 Photo Courtesy MCSO

The victim Stanley Alfonzo Williams II, 37 was transported by MEDIC to a nearby hospital and pronounced deceased by medical staff.

On Sunday, April 13, shortly after 6 a.m., 

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 200 block of Eastway Dr. in the North Tryon Division.

Officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Injury call for service in the 200 block of Eastway Dr. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim who had sustained apparent gunshot wounds. 

The victim in this case has been identified as Javier Lee Martinez Hernandez, 23. 

The victim was pronounced deceased on scene by MEDIC.

Three murders in less than 12 hours. The epic hat trick of murder, a solid up your's to CMPD white shirts who jinxed themselves with the self congratulatory presser just 48 hours before.

Real Law Enforcement Professionals understand that no amount of policing can stop homicides. It takes more than just being at the right place at the right time.or flooding an area with patrol units.

Homicides are directly related to everything else that is wrong with a society. Poor policing, lack of basic law enforcement, a DA who is weak on crime, a judicial court system that is lenient on violent and repeat offenders.

And the weekend still has 24 hours to go. God Help Us!

Sidney Cain Charged with Felony Death By Vehicle (Updated)

Overnight CMPD Officers arrested a tearful Sidney Cain (44) and charged her with felony death by vehicle and felony hit and run for running down and killing a pedestrian Michael Joseph Janik age 64, while driving impaired and leaving the scene refusing to give aid or render assistance.

Sidney Cain Age 44 Photo Courtesy MCSO

Cain is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail on a $50,000.00 secured bond. 

She refused blood alcohol test so Officers sought and were granted a court ordered BAC. 

This is the second of two pedestrian versus vehicle accidents within about a two span. Both the Barrington Drive accident and this one on Fourth Street were fatal pedestrian accidents in Charlotte yesterday.

According to court records Ms. Cain fled the scene leaving the victim Mr. Janik in the roadway. Additionally she also refused a sobriety test and therefore her North Carolina Drivers License has been revoked. Officers concluded that she was driving while impaired and her car has been reported as impounded as well.

Fleeing the scene of an accident is essentially taken as an admission of guilt and is always a bad look. This lack of impulse control is not shocking. The behavior of someone who you might expect to have dozens of prior arrests yet a review of court records shows nothing. So why run? One can only assume it is a cultural thing.

Update:

Ms. Cain posted bail and was released on Friday. On Saturday the funeral for Mr. Janik was held at St. Marks in Gastonia. 

He attended Kent State University, where he earned a BS in Gerontology which is rather ironic. (Look it up)

After college, Mike embarked on a career in banking, first at Goodyear Bank in Akron, OH before relocating to the Charlotte, NC area in 1993 to work for First Union Bank, where he worked for over 30 years through its various transitions to become Wells Fargo. Mike left Wells Fargo in 2024 yet continued working part-time as a mixologist for the Levy Corporation as he had done since 2019.

That's right he was on his was home after working the Knight's game. No he wasn't drunk.

CMS High School Teacher Arrested

 CMPD arrested Harding High School teacher Adrian Roy Lewis 34, after a Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) investigation.

Adrian Roy Lewis Photo Courtesy MCSO

On Friday, April 4, a school resource officer at Harding University High School reported allegations of inappropriate messages sent to a student.

Upon further investigation CMPD Officers interviewed a CMS teacher Adrian Lewis and placed him under arrest. He's charged with indecent liberties with a student and is being held on a $25,000.00 bond.

Indecent liberties with a student is a class "G" felony however does not mean sexual contact. 

Harding High School's Principal sent the following message to student parents via email late on Friday:

Good Afternoon Harding University HS families. This is Principal Johnson-Scott. We are reaching out to let you know that law enforcement came to our campus today to make an arrest of one of our staff members. We wanted to let you know about this incident as you may see this on the news. Although I cannot discuss personnel information, please know that it is being managed by law enforcement. 

The safety and learning of our students are of the utmost importance to us all. We take this matter seriously and encourage all students to report any concerns to their parents and/or school administration. Reports can also be made anonymously through the Say Something App. Harding University HS administration will ensure that daily learning is not impacted.

We appreciate your continued support of Harding University High School.

Cedar Update: Lewis posted bail and was released at 10:37 a.m. Saturday April 5, 2025.

Cedar's Take:

Suggestion don't text pics of "your johnson" to students.

Meanwhile CMPD won't arrest a nut case firing an AR-15 randomly in a neighborhood.

Here's how the local paper reported this arrest:

Charlotte high school teacher jailed, accused of sending lurid messages to a student

A teacher at Harding University High School in Charlotte was charged with a child sex crime Friday after police accused him of sending lurid messages to a student.