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.

Portrait of a Young Killer Danielle Holmes Redux

If police and media reports are correct you are looking at a 17 year old girl whose heart is stone cold. According to police Danielle Holmes is a killer.

Police say the victim a Hispanic male and alleged drug dealer who had agreed to meet Holmes and her boyfriend Jonathan Fitzgerald at an apartment complex off of Central Avenue on a Sunday afternoon back in 2010. That is when Holmes and Fitzgerald robbed the man. During the ensuing fight the man was stabbed by Holmes boyfriend.

He was pronounced dead on the scene by MEDIC.

A witness said she saw Holmes cover the victim's mouth while her boyfriend Fitzgerald stabbed the man several times.

Police believe the stabbing was the result of a drug deal that went wrong.

Holmes myspace page gives little indication that she had the potential to become a killer, or that she was on a drug crazed high. Her only comment about Fitzgerald:

:right now, i'm the happiest person you'll ever meet because of jonathan tyler fitzgerald:) i love you baby boy"

Yet her screen name says it all "SecurityInTradgedy"

Danielle Holmes mug shot is not an attractive photo. It is a sad ending to a young life that took a stunning wrong turn.

It makes me want to scream at parents WAKE UP!

Charlotte Police have named the man Danielle Holmes killed, he is Oscar Alvarado Chavez 22. County records show only traffic offenses and that Chavez was not an illegal.

Cedar Update:

Danielle Holmes remains in prison. Her projected release date is August of 2033. She would have been released June of 2022 but the judge didn't like her attitude and boxcar'd the sentences. 

Jonathan Fitzgerald's sentences were boxcar'd as well he will see daylight again in June of 2034

Jonathan Fitzgerald Photo Courtesy NCDOC

If you don't believe prison is hard on a person this is the NCDOC photo of Holmes taken 3 years after her arrival.

Danielle Holmes Photo Courtesy NCDOC

American Eagle Flight 5342

Talking heads will work this story over and over again. I just heard FOX News @LawrenceBJones3 use "T Bone" and "Right A Way" and a Fox contributor state that "under visual flight rules you are supposed to look out of the window". I'm it turning it off.  

Above Flightaware replay showing the American Flight's track just before impact.

The cause? I'll risk reputation:

ATC Radar shows both American Eagle 5342 and the Blackhawk Helo flight paths. You'll notice the “CA” collision alert repeatedly flashing.

Note: source unconfirmed data presented not verified.

The Helo crew is watching the river they are flying visually with the aid of both heads-up display and night vision helmets. Background lights from DC are everywhere at 300 feet and close to the shore. In the Helo lights are above and below your line of sight.

From the Helo's perspective everything is moving blinking and reflecting, depth perception is affected. There's a tiny CRJ airliner out there that you think you saw dead center over the Potomac River seconds ago.

The hard ceiling for the Helo is supposed to be 100 feet along the river. The Helo is at 300 AGL.

On board the American Eagle Flight 5342 the moonless night is dark but cold and clear and since it is VFR conditions a request to use runway 33 is made. The use of runway 33 at Reagan will put the aircraft closer to the terminal upon roll-out and save time.

The request is approved and American 5343 makes a slight turn to the east to ease the turn to line up with runway 33. Seconds later the aircraft turns west and lines up with runway 33 on a heading of 330.

The turn and the change from Runway 1 to 33 moves the aircraft from over the water where it is highly visible to over DC where it disappears into the background lights of our Nation's Capitol.

In the cockpit things are moving quickly. Checklists are completed F/A's are seated the runway lights fill the windshield. Now on the new heading the flight deck crew is mentally a mile ahead of the aircraft. Cleared to land and touch down in 8, 7, 6.....

The shift to runway 33 made the CRJ lights that were easily visible over the river on the approach to runway 1 disappear into the background lights of DC.

The question in the Helo was likely, "where did he go?" ... Game over.

Lashunda McLendon Police Had Her Killer In Custody An Hour Before Her Murder

Charlotte has a long history of bizarre crimes and homicides. This is no exception.

Cedar Posts has long criticized the liberal agenda, liberal DAs and prosecutors, judges and bleeding heart juries. 

The hard truth is that incarceration saves lives. This case not only proves that point but illustrates just how broken the system is and how bad it has become.

According to a local television news station CMPD Officers Police took the suspect to jail, but the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office refused to process the suspect and turned her away.

In fact CMPD drove the defendant back to the scene of the first assault with a deadly weapon call so that she could again find the victim and shoot her to death.

That woman Ebonee Rahman is now also charged with the victim's murder.

Ebonee Rahman Photo Courtesy MCSO

According to police records and local news, Just before 7:30 am on December 13, 2024, Lashunda McLendon called Char/Meck 911 after Ebonee Rahman, an acquaintance, threatened to shoot her on Archdale Drive just off of Nations Ford Road.

Lashunda McLendon Family Provided Photo

She Told 911:

"This girl just actually pulled a gun out on me and pointed it in my face ..." she said at the beginning of the call. " ... She kept telling me to get off her block. 'B****. I'm gonna have to shoot you.'"

With that call for service CMPD Officers were dispatched.

According to sources, the responding officer did not arrest Rahman on any charge connected to the reported threat rather "detained" her and took her to the Mecklenburg County Intake Center. 

Radio traffic suggests his decision followed an apparent unsuccessful search for a gun.

However, he did take Rahman into custody because when he ran her name through the National Crime Information Center database, he noticed she was wanted by the York County Sheriff's Office, connected to shoplifting and criminal conspiracy charges from June out of Fort Mill. 

With that information the CMPD officer drove the Rahman to the Mecklenburg County Intake.

"She had an extraditable warrant out of South Carolina. Took her downtown," the officer said to his supervisor over the radio after McLendon's murder. "They said that she has already been served in North Carolina on that warrant and therefore cannot be put in custody for that, so she was un-arrested and given a courtesy ride back."

Much to the frustration of McLendon's family, the officer returned Rahman to the scene.

Minutes later and shortly after 10 am, three people called 911 to report a shooting, as the 42-year-old, in her dying breaths, begged for help.

"My friend's been shot," one caller said. "Please come on. Please come on. Please come on."

"She's not responding ..." the second caller said. "She's bleeding. Everybody's panicking."

"She just shot her and then drove off," another caller said of the suspect.

But CMPD and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff and Magistrates had a chance to prevent a murder but didn't. Why?

CMPD hands are somewhat tied if no one at the jail is cooperating.

COURT RECORDS

Court records show CMPD first served Rahman with her fugitive charges out of South Carolina in July after they picked her up on a probation violation. That began a drawn-out process of securing a governor's warrant to bring her back to South Carolina. Records show 90 days passed without the courts receiving the signed warrant, so prosecutors, as the law allows, dismissed the charge.

Court documents show YCSO did not fill out the formal governor's warrant paperwork until late October. It then took more than a month to get the needed signatures in South Carolina before North Carolina officials could approve.

Rahman, meanwhile, walked out of the Mecklenburg County Detention Center in November on an unsecured bond tied to a still open child support case, according to an agency spokesperson. Rahman was technically still wanted, but free for the time being.

Gov. Henry McMaster's office said the governor signed the warrant the same day he received it on Dec. 4. By Dec. 13, the morning of the murder, MCSO knew a governor's warrant was almost ready, but the agency said it could not hold Rahman, because then-Gov. Roy Cooper hadn't signed it yet. He signed the paperwork three days later.

A spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Justice said the agency received the documents on Dec. 10 and secured the governor's signature within its "general timeline" of under a week. YCSO said, based on the severity of the underlying charges out of South Carolina, the length of time for the governor's warrant process was not unusual.

CP's Take: She was in violation of both her probation and pretrial release and bail agreements.She should have been held over.

The Officer Affidavit sheds more light on what happened:

On Friday, December 13, 2024, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers responded to 340 Archdale Drive in reference to an Assault with Deadly Weapon with injury call for service. 

The 911 caller stated that his friend has been shot. A paramedic with MEDIC Unit pronounced the victim, Lashunda Shmicka McLendon (B/F, 06/11/1982), deceased at 1010 hours. Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene were requested and responded to the scene.

Detectives processed the scene which was an area beside the parking lot of 340 Archdale Drive. McLendon had gunshot wound to her chest. Detectives collected discharged cartridge casing from the scene.

Officers stated that earlier in the day, they responded to separate Assault with Deadly Weapon call for service spoke with the victim, McLendon, and suspect, Ebonee Makeesa Rahman (Rahman) (B/F, 12/20/1980).

At 1002 hours, separate 911 call was received for McLendon being shot. Detectives viewed surveillance footage from 340 Archdale Drive at the Archdale Minimart. The video shows Rahman approach McLendon on foot at approximately 0955 hours and remove her jacket and throw it to the ground. 

There is an altercation between Rahman and McLendon. Rahman walks towards the parking lot of the Archdale Minimart. Approximately thirty seconds later, Rahman walks back toward McLendon, meets an unknown black male, and retrieves handgun from his jacket. Rahman approaches McLendon, and shoots McLendon while she is seated in chair. Rahman picks up her jacket, then walks to her vehicle and flees the scene.

Detectives were able to positively identify Rahman as the suspect in this case based on officer's previous interactions with her and surveillance video.

Rahman is convicted Felon. Rahman was convicted of Felony Larceny, N.C.G.S. 14-72(A), Class Felony, on 09/06/2023 in Iredell County, North Carolina, and received sentence of 8M-19M. The offense occurred on 11/25/2022.

Based on the facts obtained during the investigation, there is probable cause that First Degree Murder and Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon occurred and Ebonee Makeesa Rahman (B/F, 12/20/1980) committed these offenses

The Mecklenburg County Jail is normally a busy place, but around 8 am it is actually pretty quiet, so the reported reason the jail officers and magistrates refused to hold the suspect is troubling.

According to news reports it's unclear if the decision was to release the suspect was grounded in law or policy. An MCSO spokesperson said the agency could not re-arrest the woman on her outstanding fugitive charges in this instance, because of the way she was labeled in NCIC after her July arrest.

"The arresting officer, at the time, saw the NCIC hit that she was wanted, but it was in 'detained' status," 

MCSO Public Information Manager Sarah Mastouri said. "When someone is wanted and they have been served in another state, the NCIC goes into that status. When an NCIC hit is in 'detained' status, as hers [sic] was, it is not re-servable. So even though she was technically still wanted by York County, the NCIC entry was already in that status from her initial arrest on the fugitive. 

If South Carolina had re-entered their NCIC hit with a new entry at some point, we could have re-served Rahman as a fugitive. The CMPD officer missed that in the street. She should have never been detained or brought here as there was nothing to arrest her on ... MCSO says after a thorough review, all policies and procedures were followed."

A YCSO spokesperson said the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office is the only agency in the area that has a policy preventing a person from being re-arrested when the NCIC information notes "detained." MCSO deferred further questions to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Cedars Take:

Rahman was a ticking time bomb Garry McFadden's MCSO website hides Rahman's countless prior arrests, failure to appear charges, child support arrests and other past run-ins with the law. The CMPD Officer who drove her back to the victim's location became a Uber to Murder driver, and MCSO paid the fare.

The CMPD PIO issued News Release on December 13, 2024 and the follow-up "Case Updates" tell a strikingly different account as do local news media reporting.

No word about the subject who provided the gun to the killer. But is it too much to ask that maybe he should be charged as well?

Idiots Among Us Regina Marie Plumley

 

Regina Marie Plumley DOB 6/1/1990 Photo Courtesy MCSO

According to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Ms. Plumley was booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail on on Sunday January 26 at 7:05 am after being arrested by the Huntersville Police for Simple Assault and Domestic Violence.

Huntersville Police Affidavit:

On or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant unlawfully and willfully did assault NEIL PERSAD by STRIKING THE VICTIM IN THE CHIN/FACE WITH HER HAND.

On or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant unlawfully and willfully did use physical force against NEIL PERSAD and at the time, the defendant was current spouse of the victim.

Interestingly her booking photo doesn't appear on the daily booking blotter. Seems someone within the MCSO deliberately entered her arrest date as 1/26/2024

Who knew you can hide your arrest with just a simple error. Later processing used the correct date and Ms.Plumley was given a cell for nearly 48 hours despite being given an unsecured bond.

She was finally released on Tuesday January 28th early in the morning hours.

Two CMPD Officers Injured, Immigrant Arrested

Sunday Morning CMPD Officers and Detectives were investigating a hit-and-run in east Charlotte after two officers were injured while directing traffic.

Aaron Christian Sipf Photo Courtesy MCSO

Police have arrested Aaron Christian Sipf, DOB 12/21/1992

Around 5:23 a.m., officials say several officers were blocking East Independence Blvd near the Bojangles Coliseum due to a broken water pipe with their blue lights flashing.

Police were diverting traffic off East Independence Blvd when a 2015 Honda Civic struck the rear of a marked CMPD vehicle. One officer was inside the police SUV and one officer was standing next to that SUV when they were struck. The Honda became disabled from the crash. Two of its four occupants fled from the scene on foot. Officers located one of these subjects shortly afterwards and detained him.  

The second subject who ran from the scene is still outstanding.

Both officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.

The driver of the Honda, Aaron Christian Sipf, 32 DOB 12/21/1992, was arrested and transported into the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. He is being charged with two counts of felony hit-and-run causing injury and one count of resisting an officer, according to the sheriff’s office.

Additionally Sipf was charged with felony failure to move over resulting in injury and Driving with a Revoked License

Sipf is an immigrant from Guatemala.

Sipf has a long history of criminal activity however since Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden has removed prior arrests more than 2 years old it is hard to get a true picture of his criminal history. 

Aaron Christian Sipf Photo Courtesy MCSO

Court records show at least 15 cases in Mecklenburg, Union and Cabarrus County over the last ten years. 

These cases involve weapons, drugs and traffic violations include DWLR and countless failure to appear charges. 

Aaron Christian Sipf Photo Courtesy MCSO

Cedar's Take: Sipf has a long history of criminal activity. We have no reason to believe that this poster child for deportation is in the United States illegally but it wouldn't surprise anyone.

What he does have is a habit of not showing up for court. No bonding agency with a small amount of gray matter would sign off on his release even on the insanely low bail of $5,000.00.

5'5" and more than 200 pounds according to MCSO Sipf apparently didn't run very far and was quickly arrested. 

Sipf and the other 3 suspects emerging from the totalled Honda Civic had to be an interesting spectacle. 

Despite all the arrests and charges not one conviction. Who would have thought that in Mecklenburg County to earn a dismissal all you had to do is not show up on your court date?

Finally could someone call Tom Homan? 

Officer's Affidavit:

On January 26, 2025, at 0523 hrs. at the E. Independence Blvd Fugate Ave. the listed defendant was inside of vehicle which collided with parked Marked Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (SUV) that was occupied by an officer and another officer was standing outside of the marked patrol car but near the marked patrol car that was struck. One officer was struck because of the crash. The defendant exited the vehicle and took off running on foot towards the woods without rendering add to the officers involved in the Vehicle Crash. 

The officer who was inside the marked patrol car was able to exit the patrol car as the defendant was running from the scene of the vehicle crash and ordered him to stop running and place his hands behind his back. The defendant resist, delay or obstruct officer K. Caldwell, public officer holding the office of police officer employed with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, by running away from the vehicle crash and did not render aid to the injured. At the time, the officer was discharging or attempting to discharge duty of her office, as she investigated the vehicle crash. 

The defendant asked for the status of the officers involved when interviewed at the Providence Team Office showing he has knowledge of injuries to the officers but did not render aid. RESISTING OR DELAYING OR OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER GS 14-223

The suspect vehicle displaying NC Tag; DJW-7420 had two occupants that remained on scene, and both were eliminated as being the driver and the registered owner of the vehicle responded to the vehicle crash scene and advised the defendant had control of her vehicle and was the last person she saw driving the vehicle and gave physical description of the defendant that also matches the description of the defendant at the time of arrest. 

During the investigation with interviews and description of the driver the defendant was determined to be the driver during the vehicle crash. 

The defendant is also charged with Felony Hit and Run Drivers failure to stop or remain on scene with injury occurs G.S. 20-166(a1)

Released by Garry McFadden at 10:59 am on Tuesday January 28, 2025

Cedar Update:

Aaron Christian Sipf was released by Garry McFadden's MCSO on Tuesday January 28, 2025 at 10:59 am ICE Detainer be damned.