Grok on Charlotte Crime

This showed up in my "X" timeline:

@grok 

Black individuals, comprising roughly 35% of Charlotte's population, account for approximately 70-80% of arrests for violent crimes (homicide, robbery, aggravated assault) per CMPD data and UCR analyses from sources like Police Scorecard and state reports. Victim demographics align, with over 90% of homicides involving Black victims and offenders, indicating intra-community patterns. Arrest stats proxy offending rates, as clearance rates are comparable across races.

So?

Grok is racist?

Systemic racism is prevalent in Charlotte?

or

"The African American Community has become a culture of violence, embracing criminality and gun play."

I know that's racist.

The idea in Charlotte is that African Americans are disproportionally subjected to arrest and that makes us look bad.

The answer is stop pulling over Black people?

To hear some people tell it:

Traffic stops are bad because they often result in arrest 3 times more often when a Black motorist is stopped than when a white motorist is stopped.

Maybe it is 3 times more likely to end in arrest because Black people are doing 3 times and crime? Nah....

Then we have Mecklenburg County Judges who rule that an expired tag is not probable cause and they toss any related charges.

The idea that arresting Black citizens makes the city look bad is crazy. 

But everyone has a cellphone so when you go to cuff some kid and they resist you have to go hands on and then he starts crying for his momma. This makes CMPD look bad so just don't arrest anyone is the answer?

CP's Take:

I want to see resisting an automatic felony. 

I don't care if the charge is jaywalking or littering the moment you resist it should be a felony. Every time and every one, maybe after a while of waiting for a district court judge on a Monday morning to set bail these idiots will learn that resisting is a bad idea.

I also want Felon with a Gun to be on parity with the Federal statue.

A federal sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. However, this can be increased to a mandatory minimum of 15 years without parole under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) if the person has three or more prior convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.

In North Carolina it is only a class "G" felony and the average sentence is only 11 months on a presumptive range on 8-47 months. Most get probation.

That's in end of rant. Y'all have a great weekend.

And one more thing "let's be careful out there."

Nancy Mace Meltdown

South Carolina politics has never been dull, but representative Nancy Mace is breaking new ground.

Last Thursday she became upset when Charleston Police Officers failed to meet her car at the departures curb and escort her to her gate for an early morning flight.

Politicians are given special treatment and get to bypass TSA security with a police escort. That's right AOC, Jazzy Crocket, even Zohran Mamdani get to bypass the ID check, bag scan, drug sniffing dog, stand on the yellow shoe prints and raise your arms opps come back do it again BS.

So Mace or her staff call the airport and say she'd like her usual escort to bypass TSA and go straight to the gate.

Details are provided that she'll be in a white BMW at door No.1 at 0630.

06:20 hrs – Officers arrive curbside (Terminal A, Door 1) 

06:30 hrs – Scheduled curbside pickup time comes and no Mace no white BMW

06:35 hrs – Dispatch radios “Rep. Mace is running 15 min late” 

06:50 hrs – Silver/gray BMW drops Mace at Door 3 (not Door 1)

At this point Mace walks straight to the TSA KCM Lane

06:59 hrs – Officers locate her inside, escort begins

So now, Mace is incensed that she had to navigate TSA and and other indignities of travel life without uniformed officers shadowing her every move.

She had to wait for officers to catch up to her at the TSA KCM (Known Crew Member) Lane.

Officers escort her past the TSA Agent and to her gate.

CP completely gets it my TWIC photo ID gets me past pretty much everything. But when I travel with my wife I just use my passport like common people.

Anyway Mace is upset.

The entire episode seemed to settle down over the weekend and yet on Monday there was Mace on television ranting about her personal safety.

Mace clearing the gate attendant and entering the jetway to her flight

Hours later she was still on "X" and still having a nutty that her personal police detail failed to meet her curbside at the Charleston Airport and she felt threatened and unsafe without a proper escort. 

Never mind that all of maybe five people got within 20 feet of her before boarding!

Posted Mace on "X":

I am discussing ALL LEGAL OPTIONS with my very good attorneys who have a reputation for winning in court. 

Just received the full video. The airport failed to provide us the footage we requested - so we got it elsewhere - like we always do.

The video of my movements and interaction or rather entire lack of interaction with officers, TSA and the airline compared to the false “incident” reports is quite frankly, SHOCKING. 

There is very clearly no inappropriate behavior. There is an extremely brief moment when I am greeted by airport security and I turn to say something. Was it one second or was it two? Hard to discern.  

Airport CEO Elliott Summey and ALL those involved with smearing my good name, filing false information and  false incident reports should resign. Immediately! Right after they RETRACT their LIES. 

To any media involved, who have yet to correct the record, you will also be on the hook. 

Elliott, I am looking forward to your resignation. Tomorrow will suffice. Hope your computer is charged up. Time to start typing.

HOLD THE LINE.

So the back ground is just bizarre she thinks her life is in danger. She also considers herself a "dignitary" deserving as such things as escort and security free screening. 

When this didn't happen she lost her mind. 

During last week's airport meltdown she screamed at staff on the phone while insulting the two officers (not directly) who were trying to accompany her. 

Here's the police report.

And the police statement:

So that at this point the Diva Dignitary is in full Karen mode.

Local news report:

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace is defending herself after berating and hurling insults at Charleston airport police, saying the incident last week reflected larger failures by the airport’s chief executive and its security to protect her.

“I absolutely 100 percent confronted the airport employees who put my safety at risk,” Mace told reporters at a press conference Nov. 3.

“Did I drop an f-bomb? I hope I did,” Mace said. “Did I call them incompetent? If I didn’t, they absolutely earned it.”

Mace’s defense came three days after Charleston International Airport police released an incident report detailing a confrontation in which Mace, R-Charleston, reportedly directed profane language at police officers.

The Oct. 30 blowup apparently began when Mace arrived at the airport for an early morning flight and a pre-arranged curbside security escort fell through. She had requested an escort based on the multiple threats she has received while a member of Congress.

Video of her arrival shows her walking toward the building by herself.

In three written accounts from airport police in the aftermath, they reported Mace loudly calling officers “(expletive) incompetent” and quoted her as saying “this is no way to treat a (expletive) U.S. Representative.”

Mace claims this is not true because she wasn't speaking directly to the officers. 

(A classic case of we can hear you)

When asked Nov. 3 whether she had reacted similarly to other security issues at the airport, Mace confirmed she had expressed frustration to an officer in the past two months. She reiterated that any harsh words directed at airport police for failing to perform their duties is justified.

“Because they earned it,” she said. “I am not going to apologize for holding people accountable for their work.”

The airport incident adds to a growing list of public flare-ups for Mace, a Republican candidate for governor and third-term GOP lawmaker whose combative streak has become a defining part of her political brand.

Her response — and also her attacks on airport police — drew swift criticism from other Republican candidates running for governor.

Attorney General Alan Wilson again demanded Mace issue an apology. He called her behavior “dangerous, entitled, and beneath the dignity of public office.”

“At best she had an entitled temper tantrum, and at worst she showed a disturbing willingness to weaponize power against law enforcement when she does not get her way,” Wilson said in a statement Nov. 3. “She must apologize immediately to the men and women who protect the public every day, stop attacking those who refuse to bow to her demands with profanity laced tirades.”

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, another GOP rival for governor, took her criticism of Mace to social media, writing on Nov. 2: “Attacking and shaming law enforcement because you can’t manage your time properly or provide accurate information so people can keep you safe is why people are tired of what you’re selling.”

At her press conference, Mace additionally directed her frustration at Charleston International Airport CEO Elliott Summey, whom she called “incompetent” and “lazy.”

Summey responded with a statement of his own, where he praised airport staff, saying the safety and security of passengers, elected officials and visitors is the airport’s “highest priority.”

He made no mention of Mace directly.

“I take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness,” Summey said. “The men and women of our police department demonstrate professionalism, vigilance and dedication every day as they carry out their mission to serve and protect.”

He added that the airport’s police, Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and Joint Base Charleston personnel demonstrate professionalism and dedication in keeping the terminal safe and operational for its more than 6 million passengers annually.

Mace also described the airport’s law enforcement incident documents as being incomplete, false, and “a complete and total political hit job.” She then made four demands:

An immediate review of security protocols for members of Congress, their children and staff.

The establishment of a formal travel procedure between TSA, Capitol Police and the Department of Homeland Security for her future trips.

The designation of a single point of contact for ongoing security coordination.

A personnel review of any federal employee who she said had “compromised my safety over and over again.”

Mace also pledged that, if elected governor, she would fire Summey as the airport’s CEO — a move that goes beyond the powers of the state’s governor.

State law gives that authority to the airport’s 11-member board. The governor cannot unilaterally remove the airport’s CEO.

Asked if she had talked to any members of the airport’s board, Mace shot back: “I have not, and I don’t trust anybody over there.”

Police previously said that Mace appeared in a different colored vehicle than they were expecting, which is one reason they were not there to greet her — a point Mace’s side disputed.

Her campaign released screenshots of purported Oct. 30 text messages between her congressional staff and airport security showing that her aides had communicated the correct color of the vehicle she would be arriving in that morning.

One exchange between Mace and Sgt. Maury Sullivan showed her expressing concern about security that morning.

“And unfortunately I’m a liability wherever I am. I’m polarizing. No one needs an incident anywhere, which is why we are very sensitive to security issues,” Mace wrote.

Sullivan responded: “That is true, so very true. I will make sure to have a discussion about that. I know you have idiotic people coming after you, so I make sure to advise others to be in place. We are reviewing video now to see what happened this morning.”

Mace was eventually provided a police escort to her gate, although officers reported the abuse against them continued during their walk. One officer described the incident as a “tirade” that ended only when Mace boarded her flight.

“Any other person acting and talking the way she did, our department would have been dispatch and we would have addressed the behavior,” one of the airport police officers stated in his report. He also noted that a gate agent later approached him after Mace had departed and expressed her “disbelief” at the lawmaker’s behavior.

Mace’s camp said the Oct. 30 incident followed other missed protection requests she’d asked for in recent months.

During the Nov. 3 press conference, Mace said that she had several missed calls from Summey earlier that morning.

“And he is not getting a response from me,” Mace said.

Monday and Tuesday she's posted dozen messages on "X".

By Tuesday Senators Scott and Graham have told her to knock it off.

Wednesday she tells the world she's suing American Airlines, the TSA and the Charleston Airport.

Cedar's Take:

Just enough already. If someone doesn't ban her from air travel forever I'm going to be disappointed. 

Sean Duffy or Kristy Noam let's address this security breech ASAP! 

Welcome to November Charloot!

November is going to be just nuts.

Homicide on Old Plank Road

From CMPD:

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 6100 block of Old Plank Road in the North Division.

On Saturday, Nov. 1, at approximately 12:26 a.m., officers responded to an Assist Medic call for service in the 1600 block of Old Plank Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered a female victim who sustained a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to the hospital by MEDIC where she was pronounced deceased. 

Stella Patterson is the Charlotte City Manager's choice for Chief

Props to the FOP for extending a warm welcome to the return of Estella Patterson. The former CMPD DC's comments in the wake of the BLM riots and George Floyd idiocy has obviously been greatly discounted. Perhaps she has addressed these comments? Otherwise they seem to be massively disqualifying. 

Two arrested for a Food Lion Robbery 

20-year-old Andre Davis and 39-year-old Darnel Davis have been charged in connection with a robbery at the Park Road Food Lion grocery store in Charlotte's Sedgefield neighborhood just south of Ideal Way . Each man has been charged with common law robbery and second degree kidnapping. The older has a stunning list of arrests and yet apparently zero convictions. 

CMPD SRO on administrative leave for dealing with a hood rat.

From CMPD:

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is actively investigating an incident that occurred this afternoon at West Charlotte High School involving a CMPD officer and a student.

On Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, shortly after 2:15 p.m., CMPD officers, including a school resource officer, were at 2219 Senior Drive when a large fight occurred near the bus lot, during dismissal. Videos of the incident, which are currently circulating on social media, show an officer physically engaging with a student. The student was transported to a local hospital where the student was treated and has since been discharged.

Following discussions between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, a criminal investigation has been initiated into the officer’s response. This investigation is being conducted by CMPD’s Criminal Investigations Bureau. 

CMPD's Internal Affairs Bureau will conduct a separate but parallel investigation. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation per standard protocol.

From the West Charlotte Principal:

“West Charlotte Families, this is Principal Cook. I am reaching out to inform you of a fight that took place on our bus lot during dismissal today, a video of which you may have seen circulating on social media. We understand this footage may be disturbing. We have contacted the families of all students involved.”

“School leadership is aware and this incident is being investigated by both Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and CMPD. We will provide updates as we are able.”

“Every student deserves to feel and be safe at school. The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our top priority. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of West Charlotte High School."

According to local media:

Police said that they would be launching a criminal investigation into the officer in the video, allegedly showing him slamming a female student to the ground.

Cedar's Take:

CMPD SRO is a terrible job. I don’t care how the media spins a school fight and officer force. Resisting needs to be a felony every time. With this small change eventually resisting will be the last thing people do rather than the first. In this case the female student clearly is the aggressor attacking another officer from behind with a closed fist. The CMPD Officer clearly needed to take quick and decisive action. 

Estella Patterson Chief - Updated

CMPD just announced that Estella Patterson will return to Charlotte to become the Department’s next Police Chief!

Patrol Officers are "Over Joyed" according to the FOP Lodge 9 and can’t wait for the new leadership under Stellaaaaaaa!

Props to the FOP for extending a warm welcome to the return of Estella Patterson.

I'm glad the FOP issued a positive message and hope their optimism is well founded. Let me know how this works out.

Stella Patterson is the Charlotte City Manager's choice for Chief but do the potted plants on Charlotte City Council agree? So far crickets.

How does the discrimination lawsuit with her husband filed against Charlotte Fire and the City figure into this? Apparently it was settled last week.

The former CMPD DC's comments in the wake of the BLM riots and George Floyd idiocy has obviously been greatly discounted.

Perhaps she has addressed these comments? Otherwise they seem to be massively disqualifying.

From 2020:

Chief Patterson is welcome to believe in the myth of systemic racism and white privilege all she likes. She can preach her fear of "White Nationalism" privately till it suits her. But when she represents the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department she represents all citizens of Charlotte not just non-white citizens. This makes CP wonder......What crimes of White Nationalism is she speaking of? How many have there been in Charlotte? How many hate crimes committed by Proud Boys or the White Aryan Nation? If these groups are active in Charlotte why is this the first we have heard of them? Seriously, if the KKK held a rally in Charlotte, all of three people would show up and only if the weather was nice. The only thing even close to a white supremist hate crime in Charlotte was some fool who spray painted "ALM" and All Lives Matter" on the side of the NASCAR hall of fame building. Wait for it, and the perp caught in the act was a black guy. In a community that is divided and fearful as Charlotte has become, that last thing we need is a public servant who feels free to spew hate filled rhetoric about racists and Nazis that creates a further fear and distrust in a system of laws and common equity. There is no systemic racism. People like Patterson need to stop trying to shame white people and trying to illicit white guilt. So many liberals are in terror of being seen as racist. The terror that causes white Americans to act guiltily toward minorities even when they feel no guilt. Ironic that a person who is entrusted to uphold the law would even consider speaking publicly about "White Nationalism" from the lofty perch of Deputy Chief.

Finally the question of direction.

Patterson remains committed to hiring more female officers. But why? Would we not be happy with just any qualified officers?

What about crime? What about overtime? What about traffic scofflaws? What about the "Vison Zero" putting an end to traffic fatalities in Charlotte disaster? What about CATS and the murder of Iryna Zarutska? What about the homeless?

How does one retire after 3 1/2 years of service at age 54?

Finally Cedar's Take:

Leadership is not a job title or a uniform with a bunch of stars on it. Leadership is intangible way of being. Leadership is taking the time to recognize those who toil under the radar, without hesitation and kick ass daily. Leadership is recognizing the weakness in yourself and the strengths of others.

Leadership earned and never rewarded.

That said maybe CMPD doesn't need a leader? It seemed to do ok with backwards vest wearing JJ.

Maybe just an effective manager, a budget smart bureaucrat who can report the numbers and sign the paychecks and leave the George S. Patton stuff to someone more qualified?

The Lack of Marketing Smarts at CATS

To those of you who do not use public transit this might come as a surprise. 

Marketing is not part of CATS skill set. They really don't understand pricing and human nature.

This price schedule is part of the reason no one pays to ride the Lynx Blue Line.

If you ride the Blue Line from Pineville Uptown a single trip one way is $2.20, your return at the end of the day another $2.20. To and from work is a very reasonable $4.40.

To buy a ticket you use the kiosk, stand with your back to danger and try to navigate the endless prompts. Imagine your a single white girl its raining you worked late and there is a homeless guy raging at unseen demons dancing around the Camden station platform. It's getting dark.

Are you going to buy a ticket? Hell No! Your only thought is get me outa here.

Let's look further a "day pass" is $6.60 for unlimited rides. Why? Who rides the light rail more than twice in the same day? It is not something you do for fun!

A ten ride pass - a week of to and from work is $22.00. No discount but you save yourself the hassle of buying a ticket every time from the kiosk. 

Monthly - Unlimited $88.00 sounds like a deal? Pay once have a pass for for the whole month but wait if you work five days a week and ride to and from work that's $22.00 a week at the full price and if you buy the month long pass its $88.00 so yes you get 2 or 3 days a month free. Never mind that the average worker has two weeks vacation and if you work at a bank around 11 bank holidays each year. 

Your discount for buying a month long pass is less than 5% and zero if you take a day off.

Sure make the argument that your could go to Panthers game for fee. Who in their right mind that rides to work every day of the week is going to ride to a Panthers or Hornets game?

What's wrong with this pricing model?

First it rewards no one. It doesn't reward advance purchases. If the hope is compliance then CATS should reward compliance. Buying a month long pass should be so inexpensive that there is no reason no to buy it. 

Then there's the "Senior" discount. First 62 is hardly Senior unless you're at Harris Teeter and that means you are over 55. Second real Senior don't ride the damn train and if they did they darn sure don't need a 50% discount. They are slow to get on the train slow to get off. The take up more space with their walkers and canes and they are often overweight. If anything Seniors should pay more for the inconvenience they cause. Don't believe me? Just try shopping at Harris Teeter on Senior Discount day.

CMPD's Overtime Nightmare

Recently CMPD Command implemented a new directive to limit overtime within the department.

For taxpayers. it is another example knee jerk management rather than leadership and planning and just another example of wasteful spending and endless mismanagement.  

But for Officers it is massive screw driver and a no-back hex-head stainless steel SCREW!.

As the FOP letter below outlines this new directive limits overtime to a maximum of 10 hours per seven-day work period and 20 hours with a fourteen-day work period. 

 

The FOP letter also points out to declining morale, increased attrition to other agencies and a growing sense that for Officers, their well-being is over looked.

Interesting to know that the same staffing concerns voiced two and three years ago are being down played by Command saying that CMPD will soon be fully staffed. As Redford points out the "fully" is based on outdated figures from when Charlotte had fewer resident.

It also clearly discounts upcoming retirements and transfers to other agencies. 

As CP has pointed out in the past CMPD is woefully understaffed. By comparison Boston PD has more than 2,200 sworn Officers and yet the city population is under 675,000 vs Charlotte's nearly 1,000,000 citizens. Which might explain Boston's 2024 homicide count of 36 vs Charlotte's 110.

FOP President Redford asks that the city and department either rescind the discretionary overtime policy or transition the Spectrum Arena Traffic Management to an off-duty payment system.

Most of us taxpayers are unaware of the role that over-time and secondary employment plays in the lives of our CMPD Officers. But for the vast number of these men and woman these "side gig" assignments offer additional pay that is needed to make ends met, keep the mortgage current, fund their retirement plan and hopefully pay for their kids education.

The other issue is when there's a lack of man power, the boots on the ground have to come from somewhere.

Finally the City gives a $305,000 payment to a butt hurt police chief, $1.5 million to fund a blacks only night club, $600 million to a billionaire football team owner with a losing team and $245 million for upgrades to the Spectrum Arena yet paying a CMPD Officer an extra $15 an hour for overtime sets command into panic mode. What is wrong with these people?

So how do you see it?

And one more thing..... Let's be careful out there.

CMPD Arrests Ronnie Fewell Charged with Murder Just 3 Days Out of Prison

On Friday, Oct. 10, at approximately 5:32 p.m., CMPD Officers responded to an assist MEDIC call for service in the 4800 block of Wallingford Street.  Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim who sustained a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene by MEDIC.

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, Victim Services and MEDIC also assisted. 

The victim in this case was identified as Ronald Neville, 53.

As a result of the continued investigation, homicide detectives identified Ronnie Fewell, 32, as a suspect in connection to this case and obtained warrants for his arrest.

On Tuesday Oct. 21, CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) located and arrested Fewell.

Fewell was transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and charged with the following:

Felony Murder

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon

Felony Conspiracy

Cedar Bonus

Fewell was arrested on August 11 2023 and held in the Mecklenburg County Jail until trial in February of this year. He was convicted in February r on a plea deal offered by Meck DA Spencer Merriweather. In exchange for dropping nearly a dozen counts including AWDW Inflicting serious injury and shooting into an occupied dwelling (3 counts) was given credit for time severed and sentence to an additional si months plus 18 months of probation.

He was released from the Scotland Correctional Institute on October 7, 2025 just 3 days before killing Ronald Neville.

CMPD Affidavit:

On October 10, 2025, Westover Division officers responded to 4825 Wallingford Street, Room 146,in reference to an assist medic call for service. The 911 caller advised that she did not think the male was alive and there was blood around the victim. CFD and MEDIC arrived on scene and advised the victim had several GSWs and that there were DCCs on the ground. 

Officers arrived on scene and advised MEDIC 50 pronounced the victim deceased at 1744 hours. Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene were requested and responded to the scene.

Detectives obtained video from areas around the incident location. Video showed walking through nearby PVA, to the victim's room. The suspects then force their way into the room. After several seconds of being inside the room, they quickly leave. One of the suspects was seen with backpack that he did not have prior to going inside. The suspects then leave the motel area in the; same direction they came.

Multiple city-wide email were sent to all CMPD Sworn for the purpose of identifying the four suspects.

Two separate Law Enforcement Officials made contact with detectives on this case regarding the identity of Suspect #3. They both stated they believed he was B/M Ronnie Fewell (02/14/1993 as they were familiar with him.

Detectives compared multiple arrest photographs with video and photographs at ard around the time of the murder.

They determined that Fewell was indeed Suspect #3 and was one of the four people responsible for the murder of victim in this case.

Based on these facts, detectives believe there is probable cause to charge Ronnie Eugene Fewell (02/14/1993) with Felony Murder, Robbery With Dangerous Weapon, and Felony Conspiracy.