Dawson James Payne - FA/FO CMPD Style

Props to WSOC's Joe Bruno for the heads up on this arrest.

Police say 18-year-old Dawson Payne threw a lit firework at a CMPD officer after the officer pulled over someone involved with a street takeover yesterday on Woodpark Blvd. 

The firework missed the Officer but hit his patrol car as it exploded.

Payne fled but was later arrested when police made another stop on a car involved in the street takeover. 

According to court documents:

On 22 June 2025 at around 0300 hours, Officers responded to 3300 Woodpark Blvd in response to street takeover.

Upon officer arrival, Officer conducted a traffic stop on vehicle that was participating in the street takeover. While the Officer was removing a passenger from the vehicle on the traffic stop, an unmarked vehicle who was parked behind the Officer's vehicle observed a young white male with black t-shirt and black sweatpants on, throw a flaming firework at the Officer. 

The subject who threw the firework was later identified as, Dawson Payne. The Officer that witnessed this incident advised that the firework just missed the Officer and struck the right-side mirror of Officer's patrol vehicle. The firework left marks on the vehicle and pushed the mirror inward because of the force of the firework.

The Officer that had seen Payne throw the firework advised that he took off running once the firework was thrown towards vehicle and got into the back. 

The CMPD Officer completed his traffic stop and then had not seen the vehicle since. 

Officers then got the location of secondary street takeover at 2400 Cascade Point Blvd. Officers began to head in that direction and as Officers approached the meet up location, Officers that were on traffic stop saw the same subject, Payne, running towards the backside of the Hilton Garden Inn on Cascade Pointe. 

Officers pulled into the PVA of the hotel and located a black vehicle that was starting to flee. Officers got out with the subjects in the vehicle and detained the three subjects, including Payne. 

Officers located ski masks in the vehicle, and Payne was found dripping in sweat. A photo of Payne and the vehicle he was found in was sent to the Officer on the original traffic stop, and he positively identified as the subject as Payne who threw the firework. 

Officers arrested Payne and he was charged with assault with deadly weapon on government official. Payne was read his Miranda rights and he advised that he was responsible for throwing the firework but advised that it was not his intention to hit the officer.

According to the MSCO Payne is still in custody at this time. (Update Payne was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail on June 24, 2025 at 9:31 pm  according the MCSO website).

Payne's bond has been reduced to $2,000.00 secured provided he is finger printed swabbed for DNA and outfitted with electronic monitoring. 

His next court date is July 8, 2025 at 1:30 in Courtroom 1150.