Shelby PD Fires Officer

Shelby North Carolina Police Officer Karson Hyder has now been fired after on line video created outrage. 

In the video Hyder is seen striking Cherrie Moore at least 10 times while trying to arrest her for Breaking and Entering. 

Cherrie Moore Photo Via Cleveland County Sherriff's Office

The is not her first arrest for resisting or B&E.

According to local media 

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is launching an investigation after the video appeared to show officer Hyder straddling Moore and punching her repeatedly during an arrest Friday in Cleveland County.

A now-viral video from doorbell camera footage showed the officer throwing a woman to the ground and hitting her multiple times on Friday, May 29, while straddling her during an arrest.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said Saturday it had launched an investigation into an allegation of excessive force by a Shelby police officer, according a press release.

The investigation was reportedly requested by Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser and the Cleveland County District Attorney.

“We understand the community has questions and concerns, and we take that very seriously,” said SBI Director Chip Hawley.

“We ask the public to be patient as we conduct our work. A careful, thorough investigation takes time, and our priority is to gather all available facts so that informed decisions can be made based on the evidence.”

In a press conference shared on social media at 10 a.m. Saturday, Shelby police Chief Brad Fraser said the police officer seen hitting the woman had been fired.

The officer was previously placed on “administrative suspension.”

Fraser said the findings of an internal investigation were handed over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations for an “independent review of any criminal violations.”

The video appears to show a woman, who was later identified as Cherie Moore, grabbing the officer’s arm at the beginning of the video before the officer was seen throwing her to the ground.

The woman appeared to say, “I don’t have a warrant. What are you doing?”

The officer then appeared to hit the woman several times while straddling her. The woman can be heard exclaiming in pain, and did not appear to fight back.

A second police officer was seen running into view of the camera and appears to be telling the Officer Hyder “Let go, let go, I got her, I got her, I got her.” Officer Hyder appeared to hit the woman despite the second officer telling him to stop.

Shelby North Carolina Police Officer Karson Hyder

The second officer is then seen helping the woman up as the other officer grabs her other arm. They then appear to place her in handcuffs.

The woman can be heard continuing to say that she does not have a warrant as officers are “commanding her to put her hands behind her back”.

A fourth officer appears, who is in plain clothes and not uniform, and continues to tell the woman to put her hands behind her back while the woman is heard saying she needs someone to call someone.

The woman can be heard asking the officers to call her father, saying she’s not on her medication. She could be heard asking for mental health help at least once in the video.

The video ends with the woman and four officers standing on a lawn. It was not immediately clear whether she was taken into custody, or what charges she may face.

One of the officers can be heard asking her to “stay still, stay still.”

The woman in the video was later identified as Cherie Moore and she was charged with breaking and enter, resisting arrest and assault on a government official, according to jail records.

Cedar's Take 

She's a well know repeat offender, she's caught in the act of committing a crime and she's actively Resisting. Look at the video she's grabbing at him, his vest, his equipment actively resisting while on the ground.

The Shelby SOP continuum of force is "Minimal amount of force necessary to achieve compliance " Which is pretty subjective. First few hits are fine and next three maybe and rest of the ten total that's a little much but the Officer ain't counting he's just triying to get her to comply. 

The Chief bending over to public pressure to fire Office Hyder before the SBI reviews the case is pretty sad. 

The "Second Officer" yelling let go and the question is he telling Hyder to let go or rather the suspect Moore who is till holding on to the Officer's shirt to let go. Hyder never lets go of the suspect and the 2nd Officer stops saying let go. Then they and a 3rd Officer still struggle to get Moore to comply and into the cuffs

Was it excessive? Perhaps but just because it looks excessive doesn't mean it is so. 

Look at the video she's grabbing at him, his vest his equipment actively resisting.

And here's a reminder. 

Shelby has just 72 Officers. The death of one is personal. The villainization of another is also personal.

People outside of Shelby, North Carolina are either forgetful or unaware of the murder of Shelby Officer Tim Brackeen in 2016 for which a black man Irving Fenner was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

They may have also forgotten about Antonio Dontre Brooks. In 2023 Brooks opened fire on a Shelby Officer striking his police cruiser several times. Brooks was eventually arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm into an enclosure, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Update:

North Carolina SBI has charged Officer Hyder with ASSAULT INFLICT SERIOUS INJURY and he has turned himself in to the Cleveland County Sherriff's Office. He has posted a $10,000.00 Secured Bond.

Black Child Found Hanging From a Poplar Tree

 She was just 16, CMPD says she committed suicide. Beautiful girl heartbreaking news.

Local media won't touch the story, CMPD is on Mute. Only the way out there "Black News" and others are posting about it so why the hush voices?

Juliana Nzita, a 16-year-old African American girl from Charlotte, North Carolina, was found dead on church property after being reported missing in late April. Local police have already classified her death as suicide.

Authorities said Nzita was reported missing on April 28, 2026, according to The North Carolina Beat. Her family searched for her while community posts and tips spread across social media. She had been living in North Carolina after originally moving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On May 8, 2026, community volunteer Kenneth Tolbert, known as “Mufasa,” said he came across what appeared to be the body of a teenage girl hanging from a tree near West Sugar Creek Road on property linked to The United House of Prayer for All People.

Tolbert said he quickly alerted nearby church members and then contacted police. He later left the scene due to a prior commitment. He also provided video footage showing a small blue chair under a tree and a rope above, with the girl’s feet still close to the ground. A church member reportedly said the area had been checked the day before and saw nothing unusual.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department records confirmed Nzita was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m. on May 8, 2026, in the 4200 block of West Sugar Creek Road. The report documented the location and initial findings.

Police classified the death as suicide in their official notes. Investigators also said they did not receive a response from Nzita’s family when contacted. The church did not release any public statement.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) report noted she was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m. on May 8 in the 4200 block of West Sugar Creek Road. No signs of foul play were publicly reported at the time, and investigators cited evidence consistent with suicide including a tipped over chair. No mention of suicide note or social media posts.

Case Overview

• Disappearance: Juliana went missing from her home on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Her family and community volunteers searched for her for ten days.
• Discovery: On Friday, May 8, 2026, a community volunteer and his service dog discovered her body in a wooded area on the property of The United House of Prayer for All People church, located on West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte.
• Official Ruling: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department investigated the scene and officially ruled her death a suicide.
• Community Context: Reports shared by advocates and local independent news outlets, such as The North Carolina Beat, noted that Juliana had allegedly been dealing with severe bullying at school before her disappearance.

Public Reaction

Her sudden loss has led to a profound void for her loved ones, who remember her as a gentle and caring soul. Because of the sensitive nature of her discovery, her passing has also ignited widespread public concern on social media. While community members and advocates continue to discuss the case online and demand transparency, local figures emphasize supporting her family with compassion and avoiding the spread of unverified claims. 

Cedar's Take:

I can't imagine anyone killing themselves at 16. Black or White and really have a hard time with the hung herself from a tree. I honestly I don't know is Black suicide a thing? 

Life In Charloot Is Cheap

This week Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather decided to pled the First Degree Murder Charge against a violent felon named Gregory Dowana down to Voluntary Manslaughter with a minimum prison sentence of 6 1/2 years. 

Given credit for the his time already served Gregory Dowana will be released back on the streets of Charlotte in May of 2031. Yes murder in Charlotte is just a five year prison gig. Life indeed in Charlotte is cheap.

Of course this didn't please the victim's family who would undoubtedly like you to think of Des-Mon Thompson age 34 as a nice young man with his whole life ahead of him.

The reality of course is that Thompson was probably more like his most recent mugshot.

According to CMPD Thompson and Dowana were known to each other and had run ins before. 

On the night of Saturday February 8, 2025 Thompson and Dowana crossed paths again. Thompson at 6 foot 2 towered over the one foot shorter 5 foot 2 Dowana. They obviously were not friends when they had words at the crowded  "Walker's Express" referred to as the "To Go" in the CMPD reports.

From the CMPD Press Release:

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 3400 block of Freedom Drive in the Metro Division.

On Saturday, February 8, shortly before 6:00 p.m., officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon with injury call for service in the 3400 block of Freedom Drive. The male victim left the scene in a private vehicle before officers arrived. He was brought to Atrium Health Mercy with a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the hospital.

Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation, and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives from CMPD’s Operations Command also assisted.

Charlotte, N.C. – (Sunday, February 9, 2025) – The victim in this case has been identified as Des’mon Thompson, 34. The victim’s family has been notified of his death.

On Sunday, February 9, 2025, Metro Division patrol officers arrested Gregory Dowana, 29, for his involvement in this case. He was transported to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in Uptown (601 E. Trade St.) to speak to detectives. At the conclusion of the interview, Mr. Dowana was transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives have charged Dowana with the following:

• Murder

Thompson’s family has been notified of the arrest.

This was not Dowana's first rodeo. In fact he had been arrested just a month earlier for New Year's Eve threats made via cellphone to another Charlotte man named Jack Collins. 

According to that arrest warrant Dowana called Collins stating that he would kill Mr. Collins or anyone from his side of the family.

Dowana was arrested on January 15 on the make threat charges and released less than 24 hours later on an unsecured bond. 

The night of the shooting and murder.

CMPD Affidavit:

On February 8, 2025, at 1741 hours, officers responded to the To Go gas station at 3416 Freedom Drive in reference to an assault with deadly weapon with injury. 

The victim, Des'mon Thompson, left the scene before officers arrived and went to Atrium Health Mercy. He had multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased by Dr. Zauner at 1842 hours. 

The suspect, Gregory Dowana, remained on scene to speak with officers. The case is being investigated as a murder under Complaint #20250208174102.

Detectives reviewed video from the security cameras at the incident location It shows the victim in the store at the counter and then go outside to black Hyundai Elantra. He interacted with the driver of black Jaguar, later identified as Gregory Dowana, in the parking lot before going back into the store. 

He picked up drink can and approached the register. The Jaguar pulled up to a gas pump, and the victim watched. He appeared to become jittery. The victim paid for merchandise at the register, and the suspect entered the store. 

The two interacted further, and the victim walked towards the door. He stopped and talked with the suspect. The suspect sprayed the victim in the face with something. The victim pulled gun from under his left arm and retreated down an aisle. 

The suspect pulled gun and shot.in the direction of the victim. He had a gun in each hand. The victim ran out of the store with something in his hand. The suspect followed and shot out of the front door in the direction of where the victim ran. He reloaded one of his guns with new magazine. 

The victim entered the passenger side of the Hyundai Elantra after the passenger moved to the driver's seat. The victim appeared to-be bleeding from the leg. The suspect went back into the store and made phone call on his cellphone. There were numerous people in the store when the incident occurred.

Detectives spoke with multiple witnesses. They advised that the victim and the suspect appeared to know each other and were friendly at first, but then they started arguing. The suspect sprayed the victim with pepper spray and then pulled outa gun and shot at the victim, even as he ran from the store. 

The victim fell as he was trying to get to his vehicle. Two of the witnesses believed that the victim had firearm and fired back at the suspect.

The person who drove the victim to the hospital told detectives that the suspect had been harassing her for an extended period of time. The victim and suspect had verbal argument in January 2025.

Crime Scene search collected discharged cartridge casing of two different calibers in the area where the suspect was seen shooting in addition to numerous projectiles and pieces of copper jacketing inside and outside the store.

Crime Scene Search also collected two handguns and rifle as well as extra magazines and ammunition from the suspect's vehicle.

There was no damage or fired evidence to indicate that the victim fired weapon There was not another firearm located on scene or in the victim' vehicle.

Based on these facts, I request a warrant for Gregory Deddeh Dowana for the murder of Des'mon Thompson.

Here's were things get problematic. The African American Community in Charlotte is a culture of violence. This behavior is accepted as normal. Six PM on a Saturday night some homeboy disrespects you, so you put him is his place and tell him about his momma and then he pulls out a weapon and you smoke his ass.

In Black Charlotte everyone has guns and no one has any self-control.

The people who make up Black Charlotte think this is normal and the jury that would hear the case would clearly feel the same way. Not one Black Juror could vote to convict this guy because they have all accepted that the African American Community is in fact a Culture of Violence, accepting criminality and gun play as normal.

DA Merriweather knows this and that no Charlotte Jury would convict the likes of Gregory Dowana based on the fact that Thompson had a weapon. Never mind Dowana's prior arrests or that Thompson was clearly retreating, Merriweather knowns the chances of getting a conviction were slim and none. 

It would not matter to Black Charlotte that Dowana had 3 guns in his possession at the time of the incident. 

The Sentence:

In consideration of sentencing Judge William T. Stetzer accepted the following aggravating factors:

8. The defendant knowingly created great risk of death to more than one person by means of weapon or device which would normally be hazardous to the lives of more than one person. 

12. The defendant committed the offense while on pretrial release on another charge. 

13a.The defendant committed an offense and knew or reasonably should have known that person under the age of 18 who was not involved in the commission of the offense was in position to see or hear the offense. 

Additionally the judge found that "the Court makes no findings of any mitigating factors".

Mecklenburg County Judge William T. Stetzer still sentenced the defendant to a minimum of 80 months 6.66 years. Dowana was given credit for 461 days so he'll send right around five years in prison.

Cedar's Take:

As much as I believe that violent felons like Dowana will re-offend and that this felon will in fact kill again due to his short man issue, DA Merriweather was correct in offering a plea deal. There is no way a "jury of peers" would convict a Black Man of this crime in our city because they believe that violence is just a fact of life for Black Charlotte. 

Still incarceration saves lives. 

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles National Police Week Fallen Officer Smith

From Mayor Vi Lyles:

"This week is National Police Week – a time to honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women of @CMPD  and law enforcement agencies across the country.

We also remember those who gave their lives in the line of duty and stand with the families who carry the legacy forward.

Thank you for your service and commitment to our community."

If you were to ask her, without a script she'd be unable to name one fallen CMPD Officer.

My requests for help repairing the Officer Robert L. Smith memorial has been met with crickets from the Mayor's Office.

And crickets as well from CMPD Chief Patterson. However, CP understands she has been made aware of the concern. Officers I've spoken to and some in command were not aware of the situation but have offered to help.

Since CP first made mention of the memorial someone has removed the faded photo and the plastic cover.

However, this uncovered a larger issue. At one point the memorial had a bronze relief image of Officer Smith. Then at some point the bronze image was removed and the make do fix installed. Shoddy work by someone perhaps with the county. Now the memorial has four screw holes in it that were not necessary had the bronze image been replaced.

Charlotte citizens are happy to write the check to fix this but still waiting to hear from Meck Park and Rec.

CP's Take: If anyone has a suggestion as how to move this effort to repair the market along I'd appreciate the assist.

CedarPosts@gmail.com

CP Update: With the help of CMPD Officers, and Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell and others, Mecklenburg County Park and Rec staff stepped up and promised action to make the needed repairs.

Charlotte FOP Lodge 9 President Dan Redford has also contacted CP to offer assistance.

It might be a few weeks but Park and Rec staff promised results. We will stay on it and let you know.

The Murder of Isabella Stroupe

Warning: The details of this homicide are disturbing. 

Last week, police were called to an apartment off Albemarle Road, where inside - they found the body of 19-year-old Isabella Stroupe. 

Isabella Mary Alexander Stroupe

Her boyfriend, Thomaz Hamilton, called 911 saying she stopped breathing.

According to court records - police found her in the apartment with minimal clothing and bound to the bed with a towing strap. There were multiple injuries on her body. 

Hamilton told police the two were having sex when Isabella had a suspected heart attack.

But the medical examiner did an autopsy, ruled it a homicide and said Isabella suffered multiple broken and fractured bones and stab wounds -- and that Isabella was likely being tortured over a period of several months. 

The medical examiner said she would not have been able to consent to sex

Thomaz Hamilton was arrested and charged with rape and first degree murder. 

While searching the apartment, CMPD found a knife wrapped in cellophane with suspected blood, a baseball bat, sword, and broken cell phones. A blood stained mattress & clothes were also found.

Hamilton will have another court hearing on May 2, 2006, and for now will be held without bond.

CMPD Affidavit:

On 05/01/2026 at approximately 0335 hours, Hickory Grove officers were dispatched to the QT located at 6721 Albemarle Road. The caller, Thomaz Kenon Hamilton (Hamilton) (B/M, 02/22/2002), advised that the victim (his girlfriend), Isabella Mary Alexandria Stroupe (Stroupe) (W/F, 10/30/2006), stopped breathing. 

Hamilton advised that Stroupe was at their residence located at 6627 Yateswood Drive, Apartment E. Officers and Medic arrived at the apartment and located Stroupe inside the residence. Medic 68 (Alerand Partow, 11672) pronounced Stroupe deceased at 0343 hours. 

Homicide and Crime Scene were requested and responded to the scene.

Detectives conducted search of Hamilton's residence, pursuant to search warrant. Inside, detectives and Crime Scene located Stroupe in bedroom with minimal clothing and bound with tow strap. Multiple injuries were noted on Stroupe. The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office was contacted and Stroupe was transported for an autopsy. 

A search of the residence revealed knife wrapped in cellophane with suspected blood, baseball bat, sword, multiple cell phones (some broken apart), clothing with suspected blood and mattress with suspected blood.

Detectives conducted voluntary interview with Hamilton. Hamilton advised that he was in dating relationship and lived with Stroupe. 

Hamilton advised that during the incident, he was using his penis to have vaginal intercourse with Stroupe when she had suspected heart attack. Hamilton advised detectives that no one else lived in the apartment and no one else was present at the time of the incident.

On 05/04/2026, detectives were contacted by forensic pathologist with the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office. Detectives were advised that Stroupe's cause of death was homicide and that she had multiple injuries including broken and fractured bones and stab wounds. Detectives were also advised that Stroupe was being tortured over period of several months and that Stroupe would have been physically unable to provide consent for vaginal sexual intercourse.

Based on the above facts and circumstances, there is probable cause to believe that First-Degree Murder and

First-Degree Rape occurred and that Thomaz Kenon Hamilton (B/M, 02/22/2002) committed those offenses.

Heard On The Street

Officer I Surrender 

And then there's this.....

   

Props to "The Desirable Truth" for going where no man dared go before......

Charlotte Police Officer Robert L. Smith Park

The City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and CMPD honor our fallen Police Officers in many ways.

One of those is Officer Robert L. Smith - EOW January 15, 1987.

A name and a date many of us were not aware of, from nearly forty years ago.

At the time Charlotte was a far different place. City leadership later felt that naming a park in his honor was a just and right thing to do.

The Richard L Smith Park located at 1604 Little Rock Road is in a growing area of Charlotte known by some as Paw Creek, and the area is rapidly changing.

Due partly to the success of The River District and the nearby White Water Center. Suddenly apartments and new homes are popping up everywhere.

In October of last year Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation announced plans to add "pickleball courts" to the park in addition to the already under construction Paw Creek greenway project.

The artist rendering of the property is awesome.

But notably absent is any explanation of the Park's namesake or the small granite memorial and plaque in his honor located at the head of the parking lot. 

While the memorial is not noted on the site plans or artist's rendering of the improvement project, the "existing restrooms" and nearby play ground equipment however are noted.

The small memorial next the restrooms and picnic pavilion is in good shape, yet it could use a cleaning and the photo placed behind a small plastic cover and all but dissolved.

It is a simple memorial and the inscription below his photo written by a 9 year old is simply wonderful.

MY FRIEND ROBERT

ROBERT A GREAT FRIEND I HAD. 

AND WITHOUT HIM IT IS SO SAD.

WHIEN I HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED 

JUST A FEW DAYS AGO 

I KNEW HE STILL HAD A LONG LIFE TO GROW.

IN OUR THOUGHTS HE IS STILL THERE.

SO IN OUT HEARTS WE SHOULD STILL CARE.

ROBERT MADE THIS WORLD SO BRIGHT.

AND WOTHOUT HIM IT IS SUCH A UNHAPPY SIGHT.

BUT JUST THEINK OF IT AS ROBERT GOING AWAY 

AND YOU WILL SEE HIM AGAIN SOMEDAY.

AUTHOR RENEE REIDELL

WITITEN WHEN 9 YEARS OLD

Over the last two weeks CP has reached out to County Commissioners, CMPD, FOP and Park and Recreation staff. 

Asking about the park's construction progress both Park and Rec staff and Meck County Commissioners were quick to respond, but my follow up about the Officer Smith Memorial and photo was met with crickets.

I've offered that I have a duplicate photo and would be more than happy to step up to complete the simple task of replacing the photo.

CMPD Officer Robert L. Smith

Privately I'm told that both City and County elected officials and Park and Rec staff are somewhat bothered by the Park's name and apparently believe that the Fallen Officer Memorial Uptown across for the Law Enforcement center is the most suitable place to remember Officer Robert Smith and others.

While there is no formal action to rename the park or remove the memorial apparently they are concerned that my request to replace the faded photo might offend some members of the public. 

CP has also offered to help with the replacement of the photo covered with plastic with perhaps a stainless steel "etched" photo or even a bronze cast image. 

Thankfully on Thursday morning CP was hearing via the "back channel" CMPD Chief Estella D. Patterson had been made aware of the photo and the repair will be handled.

Additionally CP also heard from Mecklenburg Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell who as also expressed her concern.

Additional Background.

Police Officer Robert Louis Smith was shot and killed after he and other officers responded to a report of a man firing a gun into a condo complex at 0110 hours.

During the search for the suspect Officer Smith located him and shined his flashlight on him. When he did this the suspect opened fire with a rifle, striking Officer Smith four times. Other officers responded to the sound of the gun shots and returned fire, wounding the suspect.

The 32-year-old man was taken into custody and sentenced to life in prison plus 60 years, were he remains today.

Officer Smith had served with the Charlotte Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers.

He was off duty when he responded to the call.  

Rest Easy Hero.

Cedar Update:

I want to thank a number of people working to address this issue. My hope that someone within CMPD, Meck County, FOP Lodge 9 will step up and fix this Officer's memorial. More ASAP.