Crime In Charlotte, NC

City Manager Curt Walton announced today that three finalists from a candidate pool of 47 applicants have been selected for consideration as the next Chief of Police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

The Chief of Police serves as the leader and director of CMPD, which has been recognized as a national leader and innovator in policing. The Police Chief leads a department of more than 2,100 employees, with 1,638 sworn officers and 468 civilian positions, and manages a $174 million budget. CMPD has focused efforts on making Charlotte-Mecklenburg a safer place by establishing problem-solving partnerships and expanding police services.

Finalists were recruited and selected through a comprehensive process managed by The Waters Consulting Group that included national advertising and Web site recruitment page in addition to public input into the development of a Police Chief profile; focus groups with CMPD Command Staff, community and business leaders; elected officials surveys; assessments; panel interviews and site visits.

With experience ranging from 22 years to 28 years in policing, law enforcement, administration, operations and technology, the finalists for CMPD Chief of Police are:

• Deputy Chief Jerry Sennett, CMPD As Deputy Chief of CMPD, a consolidated city-county department, he is responsible for several different divisions, including Support Services and Field Services. Sennett supervises service area majors, who oversee such specialized units as the Transit Policing Unit, Special Events, Secondary Employment and the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Law Enforcement. He implemented COMPSTAT, a system for managing police operations by pinpointing locations, methods and perpetrators of crime, allowing CMPD to improve service throughout its 13 patrol districts. Sennett was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2004. He joined CMPD in 1979.
  
• Deputy Police Chief Alan Dreher, Atlanta Police Department Dreher is responsible for the daily operations of the largest municipal law enforcement agency in the State of Georgia. Since 2002, he has managed the Criminal Investigations Division, Field Operations, Support Services, the Division of Taxicabs and Vehicles for Hire and the Field Inspections Section. Prior to working in Atlanta, he served 23 years with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief, during which he was responsible for police service at Capitol Hill, The White House, and the Downtown District.
  
• Police Chief Rodney Monroe, Richmond Police Department Since 2004 Monroe has served as Police Chief of the City of Richmond where he created a dedicated homicide unit and started the Cooperative Violence Reduction Partnership (CVRP) with prosecutorial and correctional agencies. During his tenure as Police Chief, homicides were reduced by 33 percent. He began his policing career in 1979 as a police officer with the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department, rising to Assistant Chief of Police, the department’s second highest sworn rank. He also served as Chief of Police in Macon, GA for five years.

The public is invited to attend a public forum to meet and address all three candidates on Tuesday, May 13 at the Blake Hotel on McDowell Street starting with a candidate reception at 6 p.m. immediately followed by individual candidate forums. The new Chief of Police will be named before June 1, 2008.

I am putting together some information about the Mecklenburg County Judges up for election this year. Please share any information or experiences you've had with the candidates shown below... Good or bad!

My goal in collecting this information is to provide information about the Judges to the public with the hopes that concerned citizens will VOTE the 'slack' Judges OUT! You many comment publicly on this site, e-mail me or use the anonymous comment form. Thank you for your help!

2008 Candidates: Mecklenburg County District Court (26) Judge

• Charlotte Brown-Williams
• Stephen W. Kearney
• William R. Soukup
• Ronald L. Chapman
• Bill Constangy
• Donnie Hoover
• Daniel Powers Roberts
• Hugh Lewis
• Christy T. Mann
• Fritz Mercer
• John Totten
• Gary L. Henderson
• Thomas F. Moore Jr.
• Roderick Wright
• Kimberly Y. Best
• Todd Owens
• Theo X. Nixon
• Elizabeth Thornton Trosch
• William Irwin Belk
• Ben S. Thalheimer
• Louis A. Trosch Jr.

Useful Link: Mecklenburg County Board of Elections

Yesterday, CMPD Officers arrested 39-year old Adrienne Patrice Johnson and charged her with common law robbery and breaking/entering after she attacked an elderly woman last Thursday. This is Adrienne Johnson's 53rd arrest in Mecklenburg County and not the first time she has attacked old ladies... (View DOC Record)

Police say an elderly female reported that a woman came to her door last Thursday and asked to use the phone. The victim allowed Johnson inside and escorted her to the phone. Johnson then knocked the victim to the floor, ransacked her room and fled with the victim's money.

Johnson was released from jail last Wednesday (one day before the robbery) for numerous larceny charges for identical offenses. Police say she was arrested on March 28th and released on April 23rd for the following seven crimes:

• On March 1, 2008: Johnson knocked on the door of a residence on Keswick Ave occupied by 73- year old female and asked to use the phone. She then grabbed the victim's purse and ran. She later returned and stole the victim's car using the keys in the purse.
• On February 25, 2008: Johnson knocked on the door of a residence occupied by a 66-year old female on Barfield Drive and asked to use the phone. After she left, the victim noticed her checkbook missing. The suspect wrote numerous checks on the victim's account.
• On February 18, 2008: Johnson asked to use the phone at a residence on Morgan Street. After the victim allowed her inside, Johnson ran off with the victim's purse.
• February 18, 2008: At a residence on Senior Drive, a 70-year old victim gave Johnson a ride in her car after Johnson falsely identified herself as a neighbor's grand-daughter. Johnson ran from the victim's vehicle with her purse.
• On February 3, 2008: A 77-year old victim reported Johnson asked to use her phone to call a family member- saying she lived next door on Tanglebrook Lane. The victim later found her wallet missing and her credit cards used by Johnson.
• On January 23, 2008: A 64-year old woman on Rollingwood Drive reported that she allowed Johnson to use her phone to call a neighbor who wasn't answering her door. She later found her wallet missing and unauthorized checks being written.
• On January 10, 2008: A 64-year old woman on Crestridge Drive allowed Johnson to use her phone and found her wallet missing.

CMPD urges all citizens not to allow strangers into their homes. If an individual requests to use your phone for an emergency, offer to call 911 for them.

The FBI is asking for the public’s help tracking down a bank robber who has robbed three banks and attempted to rob two others in the span of two weeks. In addition, he is suspected of robbing six other banks in the past six years.

FBI Agents say a man fitting the same description attempted to rob the Wachovia Bank at 8800 J.M. Keynes Boulevard in Charlotte on April 18th. Several hours later, he robbed the Coastal Federal Credit Union at 970 Branchview Drive in Concord. On April 20th, he tried to rob the BB&T at 830 Groves Street in Lowell, NC. A few hours later, a man fitting the same description robbed the BB&T at 5145 Poplar Tent Road in Concord, NC. On April 30, agents say same man robbed the BB&T at 1782 Highway 160 in Fort Mill, SC.

The same man fits descriptions in 6 other bank robberies in the past three years in the Charlotte and Gastonia areas: Clearview Federal Credit Union, 2830 Boyer Street, 07/07/2005; RBC Centura Bank, 14925 John J. Delaney Drive, 08/09/2005; RBC Centura Bank, 230 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., 10/19/2005; Wachovia Bank, 1527 W. Morehead St., 12/30/2005; First Citizens Bank, 7837 Pineville Mathews Road, 06/05/2006; RBC Centura Bank, 1000 East Blvd., 11/01/2006

William Gosier, 17, was found guilty and sentenced to serve 5 - 6 1/2 years in prison for an armed robbery offense he committed on January 22, 2007.

Police say the victim was working inside a home he was renovating on Rockwood Road when two young black males came inside and pointed handguns at him. They robbed him of his wallet and cash and fled in the neighborhood. Through the course of the investigation, a third suspect was also identified.

Gosier, then 16, and two juveniles, were located and arrested. Gosier was charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. On April 29, 2008, after only 1 hour of deliberation, a jury found William Gosier guilty on all counts. He had no prior record of convictions.

Police have received two reports of a possible "Peeping Tom" and are urging parents and business owners to be aware of the circumstances, especially since the suspects appears to be preying on young boys.

The reports have not come from victims but from alert employees who discovered the situation. According to reports, the suspect stuffs paper towels into the kid-sized urinal in the men's bathroom of retail stores, causing kids to have to use the restroom in a stall. The stall has a hole that leads to the one next door.

The suspect is described as a Middle Eastern male, 30-35 years of age, 5'8" – 5'10", thin build, black hair, brown eyes, goatee, smoker, carries coffee cup and operating a black or dark-colored 2000 Honda Accord. Anyone with information about this individual should call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Shortly after 10:30 pm, two men were injured and one was killed during a shoot-out at an apartment complex near Wildwood Avenue. Police arrested Todd Cox (Shown R) and charged him with murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Police say Jeffrey Green-Williams, 27, died as a result of the injuries he sustained during the shooting. Danny Antonio Accor, 43, and Thomas Elliot Vinson, 30, were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

On Friday, Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton sent City Council members a memo with several recommendations addressing the rising crime problem in Charlotte. (Read Full Memo) The information will be presented to the City Council in further detail during the City Council Meeting on Monday night.

The recommendations were developed over the last several weeks- both as part of the City budget process and to provide a more immediate response to crime issues, which include:

1. Expanding the number of electronic monitoring devices for repeat offenders.
2. Providing funding for technology improvements in the District Attorney’s Office and the Trial Court Administrator’s Office.
3. Providing additional staffing to expand the capacity of the District Attorney’s Office.
4. Expanding resources in the CMPD Crime Lab to address firearms identification workload, the backlog of latent fingerprints and the backlog of DNA analysis.
5. Expanding the number of telecommunicators in the 911 Communications Center.
6. Developing options such as a property crimes court and other Kimme Report recommendations to determine the feasibility and impact of alternative methods of expediting the prosecution of property crimes.

The following women were arrested on 4/24/08 for various prostitution related offenses: Betty Bailey- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Valerie Dixson- Solicit Crime Against Nature & Prostitution; Marianne Gillespie- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Nancy Henderson- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Sophia Hosey- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Marie Johnson- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Gloria Montgomery- Soliciting for Prostitution; Sylena Moore- Solicit Crime Against Nature & Prostitution; Chauntau Pryor- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Crystal Robinson- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Teresa Russell- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Brelinda Shields- Loitering for the Purpose of Prostitution; Bertha Wilkes- Solicit Crime Against Nature; Sharonda Wilson- Loitering for the purpose of Prostitution

On Tuesday, a resident living in the Piper Glen Community came home to discover over $150,000 worth of jewelry missing. Captain Golding of the CMPD South Division sent the following information regarding the break-in.

The suspects gained entry by forcing open a door at the rear of the residence. Several factors lead police to speculate that the residence was not randomly targeted. Burglary detectives will be following up on leads provided by the victim.

· The only area of the home targeted was where jewelry was stored.
· The victim has had several contractors doing work in her house and recently hired a new cleaning service.
· The residence was left unattended for only 55 minutes before the crime was discovered.
· The alarm was not activated.
· The M. O. (method of operation) has not been seen in other burglaries.

Although burglaries in the South Division are up for the year, we experienced a 35% downward trend during the last 28 days as compared to the previous 28 days. We believe that the arrests and continued incarceration of several groups of burglars is driving this trend and we are optimistic about how these arrests will affect the year to date totals in the division.

The summaries of these significant arrests are as follows:
· As I reported in the last bulletin, we apprehended a group that we felt was responsible for the “garage door opener” burglaries. Although we have yet to connect them to similar cases, there have been no new cases with this M. O. reported.
· You may recall seeing a highly televised police pursuit involving a white pickup towing a trailer in the northern part of the county. Three suspects were arrested. These individuals are very prolific burglars in the Charlotte Metro area and are suspects in cases in the South Division and neighboring Independence Division.
· Two members of the group doing the “front door kick-in” burglaries are currently incarcerated on burglary and other charges.

Bonds on these individuals are relatively high at this time due to their lengthy criminal histories. If these individuals are released, they will receive GPS equipped ankle bracelets and be electronically monitored by our department.

Please continue to practice sound crime prevention techniques and continue to report suspicious behavior to 911. I will keep you updated with any changes. As always, thanks for your support! - Captain R. M. Golding

In the past couple of weeks, dozens of UNCC students and faculty members have had their vehicles broken into on campus. UNCC Campus police reported at least 30 car break-ins on campus. Most of the cars were parked near the edge of campus and police are increasing patrols in the hard-hit parking lots.

On Wednesday around 3:00 pm, a student reported that someone had assaulted them with “BB” type objects (possibly yellow in color) in the vicinity of Phillips Road and Broadrick Road. During the investigation, another student anonymously reported someone had assaulted him in a similar fashion several days ago and he had not reported the incident. The student left without providing the police his name.

The suspects are described as 4 or 5 black males operating a silver Neon. The weapons used may be an air gun discharging plastic projectiles. Police need your assistance in locating or identifying these suspects. In addition, any person who has been assaulted in similar circumstances is asked to come forward and report these incidents to the UNCC police by calling 704-687-2200.

UPDATE III: (5/5/08): Matthew Cullen has moved again! His new address is 1710 Galleria Club Lane. (Apartment complex located behind the Wal-Mart on Sardis Road N & Monroe Road) Remember this face and keep your kids far away from him!!!

UPDATE II: (4/29/08): According to North Carolina Offender and Public Protection Registry- Cullen aka Frontera has moved to the Country Inn & Suites in Matthews, NC.

UPDATE: A reliable source e-mailed me today to advise Derrick Foster aka Matthew Cullen aka Matthew Frontera was recently released back on the streets of Charlotte. (View report @ News 14 Carolina)

Original Post - Feb 16, 2007:
On November 3, 2006, a detective from the Plano, TX Police Department contacted the CMPD Intelligence Unit for assistance in locating a convicted sex offender named Derrick Josh Foster or Matthew Cullen, etc. (Shown Right)

The detective in Texas believed Foster was living at the Marriott Residence Inn, located at 404 S. Mint Street. Foster was registered at the hotel under the name Matthew Cullen and was a resident of the Charlotte hotel since September 13, 2006.

Texas authorities were looking for Foster in regards to a 1993 murder of a 7-year old Texas girl named Ashley Estell. A man named Michael Blair was convicted for the murder and was sentenced to death. However, recent DNA tests show the tissue found under Ashley's fingernails didn't come from Michael Blair.

Blair's attorney's requested a Judge to order prosecutors to collect a DNA sample from the soccer referee who was at the soccer game the day Ashley disappeared. That soccer referee is Derrick Josh Foster. The Texas Judge granted the request and ordered the District Attorney's office to locate Foster. Unfortunately, they found him in Charlotte...

Derrick Josh Foster is a repeat sexual offender who targets children. He has two prior convictions for sex offenses against minors (one in South Carolina in 1991 and another in Arkansas in 2003) In addition, he was arrested in Arkansas in 1993 on sex abuse charges that were never prosecuted. The charges involved him abusing three separate young victims in one week. Foster served two years in prison for his conviction in Arkansas in 2003.

CMPD Police located Foster at the hotel and arrested him on November 6, 2006. He was charged with failure to register as a sex offender. Sex offenders must register their address within 10 days of moving and Foster failed to do this. Once the 10 days has passed, the sex offender is subject to arrest. Foster has remained in the Mecklenburg County Jail since his arrest last November.

After Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office arrested Foster, Detectives contacted jurisdictions in Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Tennessee, based upon a criminal history check. Police learned Foster has used at least 12 different aliases, different dates of birth and various social security numbers within the past 15 years. In addition, Foster has legally changed his name twice.

The above evidence was enough for the magistrate to sign a search warrant for police to examine Foster's belongings. On November 17, 2006, police conducted a search of Foster's property, which was located in a storage room at the Marriott hotel. Police seized a computer, video and digital camera, CD's and some paperwork.

On Monday, February 12, 2007, a second search warrant was issued to search Foster's vehicle. The search warrant revealed additional information about what police uncovered on the computer, camera and paperwork they seized during the first search.

One of the items was a piece of paper with a handwritten note "Tuesday Nov 7, 8040 Strawberry Lane 6:00." This address is for South Charlotte Middle School and it was learned by police that basketball tryouts for 7-8 year old boys were scheduled for that date and time.

A forensic examination of Foster's computer uncovered numerous images involving sexual contact between young boys and adult males. In addition, investigators found a series of images that depicted a public restroom where young boys were observed standing at urinals. The images appeared to be taken surreptitiously.

A large number of video files were stored on the computer, however, the files are encrypted and have yet to be examined. Additionally, explicit images of young boys posing erotically were found on his computer. The warrant also revealed that Foster had accessed websites providing information about youth athletic leagues in the Charlotte area.

After uncovering the evidence on Foster's computer, police added eleven counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Foster's next court date is on February 27, 2007. * All information contained within this post is taken from search warrants issued on 11/17/06 and 2/12/07.

The following crime statistics were released by CMPD on April 22, 2008:

Following four months of a declining crime trend- both property and violent crime increased in March 2008. Compared to February, violent crime was up 11% (59 more crimes) and property crime was up 11.3% (416 more crimes) Compared to the same period last year:

• As of March 31, 2008- 20 cases were classified as homicides, compared to 19 last year.
• Robberies have increased 15.1%
• Aggravated Assaults have increased 16.8%
• Burglaries have increased 8.3%. (Residential burglaries have increased 17.8% while commercial burglaries decreased by 14%)
• Reports of vehicle thefts have increased 8.2%
• Larceny from Auto (which comprised 1/3 of all index crimes) increased 27%, while the second largest larceny category (Larceny-Other) showed a decrease this year of 4.2%
• 2,310 index cases were cleared in the first three months of 2008- almost 10% more than the cases cleared in the same three months last year
• Arrests are up 9.5% overall and 16.4% for those who have committed property crimes

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is taking a number of steps to address the increase in crime:

1. Aggressively focusing on the repeat offenders who are committing the majority of crime
   Conducting field interviews with people (Up 10% this year to date over last)
2. Increasing zone checks (Up 106% this year over last) to provide increased visibility
   Continuing focus on crime hot spots
3. Working with residents to establish neighborhood watch programs and evaluating crime prevention options with homeowners
4. Emphasizing crime prevention steps people can take to reduce larcenies from autos by not leaving items of value inside a vehicle
5. Addressing quality of life concerns that can contribute to crime (abandoned houses, lighting, trash and untended fields and yards)
6. Developing options for making cases against those who commit property crimes that will result in increased penalties (higher bonds, monitoring upon release, jail time)

CMPD LINKS:
- Overall Crime Index Report for March 2008
- Overall and Division Summary Report for March 2008
- 2007 Year-End Report -- Overall and Division Summary
- 2007 Crime and Safety Report
- CMPD Crime Statistics Archive

UPDATED: Around 10:00 this morning, two CMPD Officers responded to a residence on Statesville Road after receiving a 911 call about an occupied suspicious vehicle. The Officers approached the vehicle and found 29-year old Jason Earnest Chappell sitting inside.

According to CMPD, Officer Jackson was on the passenger side of the vehicle and Officer Rahal approached the driver's side of the car. The Officers instructed Chappell to place his folded knife on the passenger side seat and he complied.

As Officer Jackson opened the passenger door to retrieve the knife and Chappell started the vehicle, put the car in reverse and immediately accelerated. Officer Jackson was trapped in between the door and the vehicle while the vehicle was in motion. Officer Jackson commanded Chappell to stop and when he failed to comply, he fired his service weapon once- striking Chappell.

Medic transported Chappell to the hospital and he is currently listed in stable condition. CMPD Homicide detectives have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Jason Chappell for Assault With A Deadly Weapon on a Law Enforcement Officer. The warrant will be served when Mr. Chappell is released from the hospital.

Prior to this incident, Chappell had four outstanding Orders for Arrest in Mecklenburg County and numerous warrants from Cabarrus County.

Name : AIKEN, CRAIG
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL











Name : KUBIK, ANDREW DAVID
* LARCENY OF MOTOR VEHICLE
* STOLEN VEHICLE - POSSESSING
* ESCAPE FROM LOCAL JAIL PERSONNEL - AWAITING TRIAL
* RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER








Name : JUAREZ, OBDULIO
* RAPE-1ST DEGREE-VICTIM UNDER 13
* SEX OFFENSE-1ST DEGREE-VICTIM UNDER 13
* INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH CHILD

Name : IVEY, TIFFANY MICHELLE
* ASSAULT ATTEMPT SERIOUS INJURY-GUN
* DISCHARGE FIREARM IN CITY

Name : BOBBITT, OZ

On Saturday morning, I learned of a new organization in Charlotte called "Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte."

One of the organization's founders is a mother of three young children who was attacked by a man outside a YMCA last December. She is determined to bring citizens and neighborhoods together to demand action and become part of the Charlotte crime solution! I do not know much about the organization except for what is on their website but it sounds like an organization we should all support and become a part of!

From the NSC Website:

"If we truly want to be a World Class City, then citizens and city leaders must be open to self-inspection, and find innovative solutions to make our community a safer place to live and work.

Now is the time to to take responsibility. We must demand that our collective voice be heard. By partnering with Public and Private sector City Leaders, Law Enforcement agencies, and Neighborhood Associations, Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte will addresses these issues, working to find solutions to improving the sense of security for all citizens in Charlotte."

Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte is asking ALL neighborhood leaders and concerned citizens to join them on April 28th at the Charlotte City Council Meeting at 6:30pm at the Government Center.

The goal is to encourage widespread participation in this televised meeting to let our city leaders know the 'status quo' is no longer acceptable. In addition, Charlotte is selecting a new Chief of Police and we want our voice to be heard in this selection process. NSC hopes you will come to this important meeting and you are encouraged to spread the word.

Don't assume your neighbors or others are representing your interests. If you care and are concerned about crime in Charlotte, your participation is needed in this important meeting!

NOTE: On May 13th, the organizers of Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte will hold a public meeting to bring together neighborhood leaders from all parts of the city to address the state of crime in Charlotte. At the meeting, we will share the information we have collected, articulate community concerns to our elected officials, and explain the mission of Neighbors for a Safer Charlotte.