Another Day Another Body in Charloot

According to CMPD "Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a death investigation in the 7000 block of Nations Ford Road in the Steele Creek Division".

"On Thursday, February 6, shortly after 9:00 a.m., officers responded to a call for service of a death investigation in the 7000 block of Nations Ford Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered an unresponsive victim. MEDIC transported the victim to Atrium-Pineville where the victim was pronounced deceased".

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 and MEDIC also assisted.

Based on local news reports, Nations Ford Elementary School and the former E.E. Waddell High School building are located near the scene. Local news reported police tape surrounded a nearby playground. A spokesperson for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had no comment, and further details were not yet available.

It seems rather common that bodies show up in our parks and school playgrounds, While Meck Park and Rec employ "Park Rangers" they are few and basically unarmed security guards. They lock gates and unlock bathrooms. CMS Police are sworn police officers but they too are supplemented by unarmed "security associates" to fill in the gaps.

The truth is after hours schools, parks and playgrounds around Charlotte are cesspools of crime and drug use and should be avoided. Early morning runs along the greenway in the summer are basically a meet and greet of the local homeless meth addicts who are usually afraid of my two leashed canine companions .The sight of these two charging fur missiles makes the crack heads retreat back under their rocks.  

The sad news is if the deceased in a homeless person or drug addict their death and loss of life will be greatly discounted. And so goes life in Da Creek.

Matthew Michael Arrest Fair or Foul?

From the Local Fishwrapper:

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was arrested on child abuse charges while off duty, Chief Johnny Jennings said in a statement Wednesday evening. Officer Matthew Michael, 48, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and placed on unpaid leave, the chief said.

Jail records said Michael was booked on Wednesday by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and released on bond. Jennings said the sheriff’s office would handle a criminal investigation into the allegations. CMPD is “limited in the information we can release at this time,” Jennings said. “However, I want to assure the community that we are committed to holding our officers accountable for their actions, both on and off duty,” he said.

Cedar's Take:

As many of you know CP has a couple of family members still within CMPD. There are also cousins and nephews that fill all rates and current capacities in a long blue and red line, even a deputy chief in Charleston. Then there are the retired but still outspoken ones. So it really pains me to see this sort of thing show up in the press.

CP doesn't know Officer Michael but the problem with this sort of news is that the public assumes the worst of all possible situations.

I suspect this is a child custody issue and a deranged former spouse is behind this arrest. This is also the problem with social media. Wild guesses abound.

But CP has been there, what a freaking waste of money and court resources. 

At issue was my creative child disciple method that involved a mystery "man with a belt". This unseen and not real "enforcer" was used in restaurants and on airliners to compel compliance to acceptable behavior.  And it worked rather well. A tantrum throwing 3 year old at a restaurant was told to knock it off because the man with the belt just walked in. Three knocks on the wall and a "who's that?" would calm my rampaging toddler instantly into a 3 year old church altar boy. 

I never had to lay a hand on my kid.

But a liberal Mecklenburg county judge saw that as "child abuse" ordered supervised visits and that I attend anger management and parenting classes. 

Day one of the first "group session" the psychologist took me aside and asked "why the hell are you here?" I tried to give a compliant answer and he laughed. Then told me there was no reason for my attendance.  

A week later he sent me this. 

He would appear on my behalf several weeks later telling the judge that she should leave parenting and sociologist diagnosis to the processionals. 15 years later and $20,000 plus in legal fees as well as an arrest for $252.45 in unpaid child support the long running battle ended. But the damage was done. 

And I still receive every month a child support payment demand notice from Mecklenburg County to pay my child support. 

So to Officer Michael yeah I've been there brother. 

 

United States Postal Service aka The Mailman

Sharyl Attkisson @SharylAttkisson posted the following on "X":

USPS question:

Have others experienced a radical slowdown in mail delivery in recent 2 yrs? 

I don't get a lot of snail mail but based on postmarks, first class letters from same region are taking 10-21 days. A lot of mail doesn't arrive at all, including 2 wedding invitations. One returned to sender even with accurate address. The other just POOF! 

Is it my local post office or are others having issues?

Sharyl is probably not surprised that her timeline was flooding with 3,000 plus responses.

The truth is USPS sucks.

For many years we had a great carrier. She showed up like clockwork, polite friendly our mail was always ours. She lived by the motto: 

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,"

She retired. 

Time moved on.

Our replacement in a friendly Somalian who speaks zero english. He shows up at random times and some days not at all. Other days it is as late as 8PM.

Parcels are tossed in the driveway. Because he sees dogs as "unclean".

Our neighbors get our mail often. If it doesn't show up in my box I'll check their box and they do the same. I end up re-delivering their mail about twice a week. 

If I don't see an expected letter or package I can often find it 3 blocks away at a house number that also ends in 23 or the one with the same house number on a different street 2 blocks over.  

A bill mailed on the 15th arrived yesterday the 1st. This wasn't a cross country package rather just a first class letter from two zip codes away. 

But no shortage of bulk mail which we get in "bulk". Often the one piece for our address is combined with four more of the same piece.

My biggest complaint is this new American puts the important mail inside the advertising flyers and magazines.  

When I suggest he not do that he says "Look at me, I'm the Mail Carrier Now" smiles and drives away.

To be eligible for career Postal Service employment, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a lawful permanent resident alien (one who possesses a "green card"), or a citizen of any territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States.

Speaking english is not required.

Cedar's Take on Mail Boxes: Mail Boxes

The CMPD Win That Wasn't

Wrapping up January, CMPD's POI bragged about the excellent work Officers in Metro and the CGST (Crime Gun Suppression Team) did to round up the bad guys:

Great work to highlight by CMPD’s Crime Gun Suppression Team (CGST) and Metro Division after their investigation led to the recovery of 8 firearms and the arrest of the suspects involved in two Shooting into Occupied Dwelling (SIOD) incidents where more than 200 rounds were fired.

CGST and Metro Division Detectives were able to identify the suspects, the vehicles that were involved in these shootings and recover three firearms. 

After locating the first suspect vehicle, detectives found spent shell casings and worked with CMPD’s Crime Lab to confirm a match from the SIOD incidents. 

They were able to locate a second suspect vehicle with two passengers and make a stop before a search led to the discovery of additional spent shell casings and narcotics. 

Detectives completed a search warrant on the previous location of the passengers, Robert Mason, 19, and Karnell Lawrence, 24, and located an additional three handguns and two rifles. 

The CMPD Crime Lab once again confirmed that the shell casings found in the vehicle were a match to the shell casings that were found on the scenes of the two SIODs.

Throughout this investigation the combined teamwork between the Metro Division, the Crime Lab and the CGST led to the arrests of violent offenders as well as the recovery of multiple firearms before they could be used in another act of violence.

For more information, please refer to report number: 20250103-1256-03 and 
20250103-0015-02.

On the surface this looks does indeed look like "great" work by CMPD. Two violent thugs off the streets and locked up.

Sadly nothing could be further from the truth. 

Mason was released within a few hours on a written promise to appear, Lawrence was released on an unsecured bond within 48 hours.

What am I missing?

The trouble is that regardless of the work that the boots on the street do. the Mecklenburg DA and Courts will always undo.

Both Mason and Lawrence were charged with only a misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon charges. Both released on either a written promise to appear or an unsecured bond even though both gave Virginia Beach addresses and will likely be no shows when their court date rolls around.

This is total smoke and mirrors. Just a huge nothing burger as neither will actually see a courtroom since the charges will most likely be dismissed.

Still I'm reading this thinking I must be wrong, clearly they must have been charged with something beyond the seriousness of a parking ticket? Maybe they arrested so many people they only had time to name two? Maybe they arrested juveniles and can't name them, or maybe just didn't want to ruin their lives? 

(Then there's the email they suggests that if I really back'd the blue I'd lighten up.)

Here's the Officer affidavit:

On 01/03/2025 at approximately 1300 hours detectives located blue Hyundai Sante Fe displaying Virginia tag:TJF6477 parked at gas station on Glenwood Drive. 

This vehicle matched the description of shooting into occupied dwelling (SIOD) suspect vehicle that occurred the night prior (20250103-0015-02). Detectives would observe three individuals exit the gas station and get into the Hyundai and drive away. 

Detectives then followed the vehicle until the helicopter could get over head. Detectives then executed vehicle apprehension on the Hyundai to prevent the Hyundai from fleeing at 109 Hoskins Rd. 

Detectives detained all of the occupants from the vehicle: Karnell Lawrence-Driver Alexis Degroat-Front seat Passenger Robert Mason-Rear passenger side Detectives frisked the vehicle for weapons and located three firearms concealed in the Hyundai. 

One firearm was concealed under the driver's seat, which was Glock 19 9mm (Serial# PMU004) loaded with round in the chamber. 

Another firearm was concealed in the center console which was Taurus G2C 9mm (Serial# ABE556278) loaded with live round in the chamber. 

The third firearm was concealed under the front passenger seat on the rear closest to MASON who was sitting in the rear passenger seat, which was Glock 19 9mm(Serial# BWYK500). 

Detectives also observed spent shell casing in the trunk of the Hyundai. Crime Scene was then requested to process the vehicle related to the SIOD.

The defendant, Robert Mason, is being charged with CCW-gun for the firearm concealed

under the seat directly in front of him, Glock 19 9mm (BWYKS500) handgun.

The affidavit for Lawrence reads the same.

Cedar's Take:

Add up the resources and costs, helo, crime scene, Officers, Detectives, wreckers, courts, MCSO, and the best we can come up is a misdemeanor.  200 rounds fired into occupied homes and this is the best we can do? Please tell me where I'm wrong?

And this is just one of two dozen cases I've been told about in the last year. Look are the Romare Bearden Park shooter. Or the Juneteenth shooting. Bragging about these non-events makes CMPD look like the Joe Biden of police departments.