CMPD's "Crime Mapper" aka Crime Number Madness

Grab a Cup of Coffee or a Couple of Beers. This is a long one. My apologies to those with short attention spans. And so here we go.......

Last year CMPD took the crime mapping online tool in house with the department saying the new program was developed internally to improve accuracy and lower costs. According to CMPD, incident data is uploaded within approximately 24 hours.

Previously CMPD used crimemapping.com, a national third-party website, but the department and the city of Charlotte allowed that contract to expire in September.

The new online application, CMPD has called "CrimeMapper,"

According to CMPD the program allows users to visualize reported incidents dating back to six months; however, for incidents that happened more than six months ago, people can go to the city’s Open Data Portal which has a database going back to 2017.

But the reports and maps are riddled with errors.

Dates 

Using the departments "CrimeMapper" and selecting homicides, the area as all of Charlotte and the custom date range of January 1, 2025 to June 6, 2025 the program returns 34 entries. 

The first homicide of 2025 is the murder of Christopher Alexander Arrojo with a date of January 8, 2025.

But the CMPD press release dated January 10, 2025 says murder was on January 9, 2025.

Charlotte, N.C. – (Friday, January 10, 2025) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation on the interstate I-85 southbound ramp at W. WT Harris Boulevard in the University City Division.

On Thursday, January 9, shortly before 10:00 p.m., officers responded to a vehicle crash call for service near W. WT Harris Boulevard. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim with a gunshot wound. MEDIC transported the victim to an area hospital where they later succumbed to their injuries.

University City officers made an arrest on scene and there are not any additional threats to the community at this time.

A check of police report filed on January 10, 2025 also confirms the date of January 9, 2025

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 2158 hours, University City division officers responded to I-85 South, near the W.T. Harris Blvd. exit ramp for an Assault with Deadly Weapon call for service. Prior to officers' arrival, there were multiple calls for service stating that there had been multiple vehicle collision on I-85 South, one subject had fled from the scene of the collision, and one subject was shot. Officers located three vehicles involved in

the collision, and the victim, Christopher Alexander Arrojo (Arrojo) (W/M, 01/27/1995), who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his torso. Arrojo was transported to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

(Presbyterian) where he was pronounced deceased by Dr. Hanna Phillips at 0012 hours.

Officers located the defendant, Marquail Antonio Burris (Burris) (B/M, 02/22/2000), with the assistance of the police helicopter, at nearby hotel. Detectives spoke with the defendant, who stated that he was driving his silver, Nissan Rogue with VIN: JNSASSMT1EW611972,in the far-left lane of I-85 South. Burris stated that he struck two other vehicles: an orange, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with SC License Plate GJZ646 and VIN: 5XYZU3LB8EG20081 5, driven by Brianna Teahl (05/09/2002), and black, 2013 Nissan Altima with NC License Plate LCX8324, and VIN: IN4AL3AP7DC158659, driven by Jabril Shank (B/M, 04/10/1999).

Burris stated that he ran from the vehicle. Burris stated that he got into an altercation with the victim, Arrojo, on the exit ramp. Burris admitted to detectives that he shot the victim. Burris stated to detectives that he was carrying 9MM handgun concealed in his waistband prior to shooting the victim.

Detectives located the victim, black handgun, and discharged cartridge case in Burris' path of travel from the hit and run.

Burris is still being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail without bond.

While CMPD told local media that CrimeMapper was developed in house to save on costs, the CMPD website states:

"CrimeMapper" has been developed by ESRI to provide the public with valuable information about recent crime activity in their neighborhood.

Our goal is to assist police departments in reducing crime through a better-informed citizenry. Creating more self-reliance among community members is a great benefit to community oriented policing efforts everywhere and has been proven effective in combating crime.

CrimeMapper utilizes an advanced mapping engine, which helps us provide a high level of functionality as well as flexibility. Crime data is extracted on a regular basis from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's records system so that the information being viewed through a Web browser is the most current available. This data is always verified for accuracy and all address information is generalized by block in order to help ensure privacy is protected.

Our Pledge to You:

We will continue to strive to provide the most accurate and timely crime data available online!

An internet search of ESIR returns a company based out of California.according to their website:

Esri is the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping. 

Then there is this second entry on "CrimeMapper" which is for a homicide that occurred on January 10, 2025 at 7700 E WT Harris Boulevard.

Maybe/Maybe Not

But a search of CMPD PIO Press releases shows nothing about a January 10, 2025 homicide but there is the one on January 9th. Could it be the same Homicide on I-85? While it seems plausible that this is also the January 9th homicide the Incident Number is different.

So there clearly was a second homicide perhapes one on the 9th and the other on the 10th both in the same general area?

The "CrimeMapper" website offers the following disclaimer:

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data provided herein, the City of Charlotte makes no warranty regarding the reliability, accuracy, or completeness of the GIS data or the functionality of the GIS tool. Users should consult public primary information sources such as recorded deeds and plats to verify the accuracy of the data provided.

Well Deeds and Plats have little to do with murders but OK, LoL

The third entry references a homicide that occurred on January 13th at 5600 Brookshire Blvd.

A search of the CMPD PIO website shows no homicides occurring on January 13, 2025 but an entry on January 14, 2025 addresses a homicide on that same day:

Charlotte, N.C. – (Tuesday, January 14, 2025) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 5600 block of Brookshire Blvd. in the North Division.

On Tuesday, January 14, shortly after 7:30 p.m., officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon call for service in the 5600 block of Brookshire Blvd.  Upon arrival, officers discovered a person with a gunshot wound. MEDIC pronounced the victim deceased on the scene.

On Thursday January 16, 2025 the CMPD PIO released the following:

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, January 16, 2025) – The victim in this case has been identified as Jaquad Malik Pearson, 19. Mr. Pearson’s next of kin have been notified of his death.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Grazier-Zerbarini is the lead detective assigned to this case. The public can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or Charlotte Crime Stoppers.  For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20250114-1938-00.

But the press release fails to mention which case this is an update to. 

A week later the CMPD PIO release the following:

Charlotte, N.C. – (Friday, January 24, 2025) – As a result of the continued investigation into the death of Jaquad Malik Pearson, 19, detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Homicide Unit identified two suspects in this case. Detectives arrested Demetrius Kavon Adams, 18, and one juvenile. 

The Real Time Crime Center, North Tryon officers and its Crime Reduction Unit assisted in locating and arresting these suspects.

Officers transported the juvenile and Adams to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) where they were interviewed by homicide detectives.

At the conclusion of these interviews, Adams and the juvenile suspect were transferred into the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Both suspects are charged with Murder.

In this release the PIO names the victim Jaquad Malkil Pearson but there is no mention of the date that the homicide occurred.

A review of court records however show an arrests affidavit that matches the Incident Number 20250114-1938-00 names the victim as Jaquard Pearson and suspects as  Demetrius Adams and the unredacted juvenile name and his DOB. The date of the homicide given is January 14, and not the January 13 date reported on "CrimeMapper".

Another example

From the CMPD Press Release:

On Saturday, January 18, shortly after 4:00 p.m., officers responded to a call for service along with MEDIC in the 8700 block of Hollow Creek Circle in regards to a subject needing medical assistance. Upon arrival, MEDIC rendered aid and discovered the victim had a gunshot wound. MEDIC pronounced the victim deceased on the scene.

But the CMPD "CrimeMapper" shows the entry as having a date of January 17, 2025.

Seeing Double

But it is not only dates that CMPD's "CrimeMapper" has wrong, sometimes there are duplicate entries.

There were two homicides on May 18th. One on Spring Street and the other on Winding Path Way. In both cases the victims were 17 years old. There have been no arrests in either case.

CMPD's "CrimeMapper" totals the number of 2025 homicides as of June 6, 2025 at 34 if you back out the duplicates the number is 32. 

Cedar Posts counts 48 since January 1st, the discrepancy can be attributed to the fact that some were determined to be suicides others listed as justified homicides.

Kamorrie Prather was just 18 when he was found shot to death in a car on Frew Road. The CMPD PIO press release reads as follows:

Charlotte, N.C. – (Saturday, May 3, 2025) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 3600 block of Frew Road in the North Tryon Division.

On Saturday, May 3, at 11:00 a.m., officers responded to an accident with injury call for service in the 3600 block of Frew Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim with a gunshot wound. MEDIC transported the victim to the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center 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, Victim Services, CFD and MEDIC also assisted.

While the redundancy in the PIO press release is bothersome the fact it Kamorrie Pather's murder doesn't show up in the "CrimeMapper" data base or the map is really troubling

Pronouns

Then there's the case of Navaeh Carter. The 17 year old was shot to death on May 31th. Again "CrimeMapper" has the date as May 30th. 

The first CMPD Press Release reads:

Charlotte, N.C. – (Saturday, May 31, 2025) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation at the intersection of North Graham Street and Craighead Road in the North Tryon Division.

The follow on release IDs the victim:

Charlotte, N.C. – (Saturday, May 31, 2025) – The victim in this case has been identified as Navaeh Carter, 17. The victim’s family has been notified of his death.

His death? 

Was the Vic a transgendered individual? Normally it would be polite to ID the victim of a homicide by their preferred pronouns. My thought it she was a very pretty 17 year old female.

I could be wrong. Then to make matters worst CMPD tags the prior press releases with the arrest update for a totally different case.

The has been no arrest in the murder of Miss Carter, despite a dozen cameras and witnesses.

Timing

CMPD told Charlotte City Council it would normally be within 24 hours. According to the CrimeMapper website, "incident data is uploaded within approximately 24 hours".

In reality the reports are uploaded and available about a week to ten days after the date of occurrence. 

The bottom line 

If the homicide reporting and numbers are this wrong, how underreported are the more common crimes. If you can't trust the Police Department's information who can you trust?

Let's face it CMPD didn't take the crime mapping in house to save money they just found an easy way to control the information flow. The department is still using a 3rd party vendor. This is how you deflect first screw up the dates so no one can check the reports against the real numbers. Then as the year goes on drop a few murders no one will notice. If you get caught, then blame it on user error. 

Blame crime on "perception" then point to your own "CrimeMapper" to show that crime is really down. 

I'll say it again if they can not accurately report the murders just how wrong are the B&E numbers?

Is this deliberate? You tell me.

The same issue abound at MCSO. Arrests are limited to just the last three years. The pedofile living next door is unknown to everyone unless he/she self reports, you know the honor system?

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More on the MCSO

When is comes to stupid no one yells "here, hold my beer" better than the clowns at Garry McFadden's "Day's Inn" Extended Stay Resort and Recording Studio.