Why Are Meck Judges and the Meck DA Dismissing Charges Against Dangerous Felons?

Officer involved shooting shuts down Charlotte’s North Tryon Street on Saturday.

CMPD says the Suspect Jarod Lewis Starks has been charged with:

Felony Assault with a Firearm on a Government Official

Possession of a Firearm by Felon

Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle

Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill (3 Counts)

Attempted Armed Robbery

Going Armed to the Terror of the public

Starks Photo Courtesy MCSO

But here is were things get interesting. Starks was just released from jail four days ago on Auto Theft and Possession of a Stolen Auto charges. The apparent reason was Starks was released is that Judge RODERICK GLENN DAVIS dismissed the charges on June 3rd.

Starks was released June 16th after the Meck DA refused to recharge Starks on the auto theft. 

Seems Starks stole a Black Honda Civic on May 12, 0226 around 2:30 a.m. Later that day a License Plate Reader picked up the car on Idlewild Road around 8:00 p.m.

CMPD Officers made a traffic stop on the stolen car and determined that the driver was Starks who was wearing the same clothes as the suspect a the video seen leaving with the stolen car from the victim's driveway in the early morning hours, that same day.

Mr. Starks guilt is further implicated in that he was on parole and had an electronic monitor that was active and placed him at the victim's home at 2:30 a.m.

Less than a month later the charges are dropped and Starks is once again released from jail.

We don't know why the the judge dismissed the charges against Mr. Starks or if the Meck County DA dropped the charges his reasoning for that. 

Mecklenburg County DA Spencer Merriweather

We do know Starks was paroled on February 1, 2026 after serving 7 years and 3 months in prison.

CMPD Affidavit:

On June 20th, 2026, Victim was operating his gray 2015 Nissan Rogue on the 2300 block of Tryon Street when a black male wearing white shirt, beige pants, with black firearm pointed the firearm at the victim and confronted him asking him for his car. 

The victim feared for his life and sped off. As he sped off, he observed the suspect point the firearm at his car and fire at least one round.

Shortly after, a Victim was pulling out of the parking lot of 2310 Tryon Street in his 2010 Chrysler Sebring when he observed the same black male walking towards his car, point firearm at his car, and fire. 

The Sebring was struck once in the left rear tire. Victim was in the passenger seat of the vehicle when this occurred.

Victim called 911 and an officer responded. Upon arrival of the officer, the Victim observed the suspect approaching with his arms folded and pointed him out to the officer. The officer confronted the suspect. 

As the officer gave verbal commands to the suspect, the suspect unfolded his arms revealing firearm and pointed it at the officer. The officer discharged his firearm towards the suspect which caused him to then flee.

The suspect fled and hid in nearby building prior to surrendering. 

Upon search of the building, officers located black Ruger .380 in the building. Additionally .380 casings were located on the scene where the suspect was observed shooting.

Detectives spoke with witnesses who observed the suspect walking on the sidewalk and shooting into traffic multiple times. The witnesses feared for their lives and took shelter in a nearby building.

Starks, is a convicted felon in the state of North Carolina. On November 11, 2018, Starks was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Class Felony with maximum punishment of 88 months. Starks pled guilty on August 12, 2020 in Mecklenburg County Superior Court and was sentenced to 87 to 117 months.

Cedar's Take

We don't know why the the judge dismissed the charges against Mr. Starks or if the Meck County DA dropped the charges or his reasoning for that. 

Mecklenburg County Judge Roderick Glenn Davis

We do know Starks was paroled on February 1, 2026 after serving  7 years and 3 months in prison.

Saturday's shooting could have ended tragically.

Meck Co DA Merriweather and Judge have some explaining to do. Thankfully we aren't making plans to attend the funeral of a CMPD Officer or some innocent bystander.

Meck County Judge Says Black Lives Matter (Not so Much)

Last month Emanuel Isaac Parada now age 22 was sentenced to prison for the 2023 murder of Ja’Kez Kyiesh Johnson.

Emanuel Isaac Parada Photo Courtesy MCSO 

3 years ago Parada shot Johnson several times. Ja’Kez Kyiesh Johnson was taken to the hospital and a few days later died. 

According to CMPD:

On Saturday, July 8, 2023, shortly before 5:00 p.m., officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon call for service in the 5000 block of Curtiswood Drive. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds.  MEDIC transported the victim to Atrium Health Main with life threatening injuries..

Ja’Kez Kyiesh Johnson age 19

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, the CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested a 15-year-old juvenile suspect and Emanuel Isaac Parada (DOB: 11/30/2003). 

Parada, who was 19 at the time, was also charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and possession of a stolen firearm. At the time he killed Johnson, he had just been convicted on weapons charges and sentenced to probation and community service.

Last month, Parada pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case with a plea deal that would not only drop the first degree murder charge but also the drug and weapons charges. 

Parada was sentenced to 157-201 months in prison and ordered to pay on May 14, 2026 by Mecklenburg Superior Court Judge William T. Stetzer. 

The sentence calls for 157-205 months, but basically that means 13 years less his time served he'll be eligible for release on parole in less than 4 years. 

Cedar's Take:

If you're black or if your child is black judges like Stetzer and DA's like Merriweather place little on black lives. About $10,000 the amount of restitution order to be paid by the killer to help the family with funeral costs.  

Life is cheap in Charloot Murderburg. Real Cheap.

Real Cheap. 

Nearly six years after 22 year old Andre Boyd was shot and killed at a north Charlotte apartment complex, his killer took a plea deal that could lead to his release in less than 2 years.

Curtis Beatty Photo Courtesy MCSO

Liberal Judge CARLA N. ARCHIE agreed to the Meck DA's plea deal where Curtis Beatty was allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of Voluntary Manslaughter and the charges of ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON and CONSPIRACY TO COMMITT ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON were also dropped.

According to CMPD investigators Beatty shot Andre Boyd seven times.

According to local media, the judge, Carla Archie, "spoke sternly to Beatty" before sentencing him to prison.

“You have a debt to pay, and no amount of time that I sentence you to is going to pay that debt,” said Chief Superior Court Judge Carla Archie.

"Archie told Beatty that debt is paid by what he gives back to this community when he gets out of prison."

That same judge found that there were aggravating factors including that Beatty was already on probation and that his actions put other people at risk. She found no mitigating factors. But that wasn't enough for her to protect Charlotte's citizens with a maximum prison sentence.

What the judge didn't address was the other 35 charges that were dismissed over the past 6 years. The DA apparently dismissed those charges because of the pending First Degree Murder Charge.

Life is Cheap in Charloot Vape Pen Cheap

The victim was apparently tying to steal some already stolen Vape Pens from a wanna be Hispanic drug dealer. But it cost the 18 year old Isaiah Shorter his life. Shot dead in the park stairwell over a couple of $18.00 Vape Pens with CBD Weed.

The killer according to CMPD was 18 year old Jayden Enrique Almendarez-Vigil

Almendarez-Vigil Photo Courtesy MCSO

Mecklenburg County Judge Cecilia Oseguera set his bond at just $300,000.00. 

He remains behind bars. 

Cedar's Take:

The following details are both graphic and horrific. The illustrative image is AI generated based on the crime scene description. 

Hard facts that tell a story of youth violence for which the only correct justice is lifetime incarceration. Yet liberal judges and politicians will make excuses for these acts of violence. The perp in this case will likely see not more than 12 years in prison. This must change.

CMPD Affidavit:

On Wednesday, June 3,. 2026 officers in the Freedom Division responded to 3970 Bristol Drive, Westerly Hills Neighborhood Park, in reference to an assault with deadly weapon where one person had been shot. 

Upon officers arrival they located male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officer pronounced the victim deceased at 1131 hours. At that time, Homicide and Crime Scene investigators were requested and responded to the scene.

Detectives spoke with several witnesses who stated multiple people were standing in the park when they heard gunshots. 

Witnesses observed two subjects running into the woods away from the scene. Another subject ran to gray/silver sedan, got into the vehicle, and fled the scene. 

All are leaving the victim behind on the ground. Witnesses described the sedan as having red/pink Honda decal on the front. One witness stated he observed the Hispanic male running to the car, carrying something tucked under his shirt, and appeared to be holding something near his waistband.

The scene was neighborhood park along a stairwell adjacent to the baseball field. 

Nine Hornaday 9 mm Luger DCCs and two Hornaday 9 mm Luger DCCs were located at the top of the stairs and on the upper portion of the stairs. A black toboggan was located along the sidewalk near the stairs. A broken bookbag strap was located at the top of the stairwell. In the wood line, there was trail leading away from the park. 

Along the trail two matching Jordan shoes were located with one on the trail and the other farther down, slightly off the trail in the vines. Further down the trail was gold Vape pen case. Deeper into the woods was Louis Vuitton decal in the mud. A lack Louis Vuitton bag with broken strap was located in an empty creek bed further into the woods. Inside were vape pen cartridges that matched the one on the trail and several packages of suspected marijuana.

The victim was lying supine at the bottom of the stairwell with his head against the stairs and his feet lying straight, facing away from the stairs. 

The victim was a younger black male. The victim's black athletic shirt had: been partially cut off, and brown hooded zip-up had been partially removed. 

The victim was wearing dark blue sweatpants over black gym shorts, white socks, and blue Crocs: The victim had one defect near the base of his skull on the back of his head and second defect just below his neck on his back to the right of his spine. 

A brown Sprayground bookbag was wrapped around the victim' left arm Inside, there was school work and a CMS Chromebook with the victim's name on it. gold vape pen cartridge matching that of the one on the trail, and blue cell phone were also located inside the bookbag. An apparent projectile hole was observed through the top of the bookbag and the top of the back of the brown jacket

Officers on scene were able to locate a juvenile witness. Detectives spoke to him after he was voluntarily transported to the LEC. He stated he was Freshman at Harding University High School but left school early and was walking home. As he was walking through Westerly Hills Park, he saw an acquaintance he knew as "Zay" and his friend who was an unknown Hispanic male. He stated that both boys were also students at Harding University High School. Zay joked around about robbing someone who was going to meet them with some weed (vape) pens. 

Shortly after, another Hispanic male with backpack arrived and met the three boys who were already there. Initially, Zay spoke to the Hispanic male with the backpack about purchasing the vape pens, but then walked around and "bear-hugged" him from behind. The other Hispanic male, Zay's friend, then began to kick the boy with the backpack and removed it from his person. 

The witness said he and the boy with the backpack then ran away and heard several gunshots. He "assumed" Zay was dead, but stated he did not see the actual shooting. 

The witness and Zay's friend ran through the woods together and eventually split up so they wouldn't get caught by the police. The witness was soon located by the police and then cooperated.

Detectives were able to speak with an additional witness who was present for the homicide. His story was consistent with the juvenile witness. He added that the struggle happened at the top of the steps near a bleacher. He stated that once Zay "bear hugged" the shooter, he attempted to take the bag off the shooter, but the shooter grabbed his leg. At this time, he delivered knee strike, causing the shooter to move into stand - up position and for Zay to stumble backwards. At this time, he observed the shooter retrieve gun from his waistband and point it at Zay. 

This witness stated they all began to run away as the shooter began to fire his gun. As he was running into the woods, he continued to hear gunfire and could hear the bullets whipping by him.

Detectives were able to successfully download the contents of the victim's cell phone. Detectives reviewed the phone and discovered an Instagram conversation between the victim's account and "Twinsko". Detectives located a page linked to "Twinsko" with music videos on it. 

Further review of the videos and comments, detectives were able to locate the first name of who is believed to be "Twinsko" as Jayden. 

Detectives knew from both witnesses that the shooter attended Phillip O. Berry High School. Contact was made with CMS Police, who provided detectives with the name Jayden Enrique Almendarez Vigil (DOB 11/16/2007) as being current student. 

Detectives then located 2012 Honda Accord as being registered to Vigil in CJLEADS. 

Detectives went to Vigil's CILEADS listed address and located silver Honda Accord NC: WBD-3217 with red Honda emblem on the front of the vehicle.

Based on the following evidence, detectives believe there is probable cause for the arrest of Jayden Enrique Almendarez Vigil (DOB 11/16/2007) for murder. The witness's accounts of how the attempted robbery occurred. How they were fleeing away from Vigil once he retrieved firearm, and how Vigil was shooting at their backs as they were all running away. The evidence at the scene suggests Vigil fired majority of the time at the top of the steps, but then moved towards the bottom of the steps where the victim's body was found. 

The victim suffered two apparent gunshot wounds. One to the upper spine near the base of his neck and another to the back of his lower head. 

Lastly, Vigil did not remain on scene or attempt to report the incident to the police to provide statement.

Blue Print To Attack Shelby Officer Hyder

Within hours of the arrest of Cherrie Moore on charges of Breaking and Entering, Resisting Arrest, and Assult on a Police Officer, liberal crazies began posting a Ring Camera Video of the Arrest.

The Video shows Moore actively resisting arrest and the Shelby Officer responding. 

Liberal Activists quickly mounted an attack on the Shelby Police Department and Officer Hyden. 

This is their blue print.

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?