Crime In Charlotte, NC

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 Observer published an article today about a 42-year old man who lives in the University area of Charlotte. He was at home in the middle of the day on Tuesday when two men and two women attempted to break-in to his home... (Read full story)

Following the victim's 911 call, a CMPD University Division Officer was en route to the home and spotted the suspects leaving the area. The Officer followed the suspects and arrested all four of them: Ashley Avery, 20; Anthony Byrd, 18; Darius Claitt, 17; and Bertha Lampkin, 21.

Homicide detectives have identified 58-year old Gordon Franklin McMullen (Shown R) as the individual charged with the murder of Mildred Clontz. While Robbery detectives have completed identification lineups with other potential victims, they continue to investigate those cases.

McMullen is a habitual felon whose previous convictions include credit card theft, larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon and forgery/counterfeiting. He was released from prison on March 8, 2007 after serving 20 years. - View McMullen's DOC Record-

One of CMPD's Most Wanted suspects was captured today thanks to a citizen who called the VCAT Tip line. Police say the VCAT and SWAT teams arrested David Lawon Cousart shortly after 1:00 pm inside a home on Downs Avenue.

Cousart was a prominently featured member of CMPD's Most Wanted list. Most recently, he was involved in a violent home robbery in Charlotte on March 13th. He held a family at gunpoint and shot a male inside the home.
David Cousart is 18-years old and he is already considered a HABITUAL repeat offender. Cousart's arrest record goes back to his early teens when he was still considered a 'juvenile.' Since his 16th birthday, CMPD has arrested him 15 times. Officers in Cabarrus County arrested Cousart on several occasions as well. (View DOC record)

Cousart is another prime example of a criminal who commits crime after crime and still walks the streets of Charlotte... Need I say more?

*Watch WCNC Video: Why are repeat offenders on the streets?

A violent fugitive wanted in Indiana and Kentucky was arrested in Charlotte last night. Melvin Carson, 23, is suspected of robbing several gas stations, liquor stores and other businesses in the Evansville, Indiana & Owensboro, Kentucky areas.

During a robbery of a liquor store, Carson jumped behind the counter and brutally attacked the clerk. (Watch Video) When Carson robbed a Chevron gas station, he hit the owner in the face, breaking his glasses.

Hopefully he wasn't in Charlotte long enough to claim more victims.

UPDATE: Police have identified the armed robber and shooting victim as 52-year old Bobby Airon Dinkins. Dinkins' arrest history in Charlotte-Mecklenburg goes back to 1992 on charges including burglary, robbery and felony breaking and entering.

Shortly after 7:30 pm, a CMPD Officer exchanged gunfire with a suspected armed robber in a shopping center parking lot on South Blvd. The suspect suffered serious injuries and the Officer suffered minor injuries.

Prior to the shooting, the suspect robbed two clerks at gunpoint inside a Dollar Tree store. An assistant manager told WCNC News that two clerks inside the store were tied up during the robbery, which happened right before closing. One clerk managed to call 911 on her cell phone while the robber was out of the room.

An Officer was across the street on another call and spotted the suspect running from the store. At some point, shots were fired and the suspect was hit. Police are not saying who fired shots or what led to the gunfire.

On Friday afternoon, CMPD University City Division Officers arrested 18-year old Davon Santario McKnight (R) while he was operating a stolen vehicle.

McNight is accused of robbing a woman of her purse and vehicle at gunpoint on Pintail Place. Police say they are investigating to see if McNight is linked to other armed robberies in the area.

Along with the Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon, he is also charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession with Sale and Deliver of Marijuana and numerous traffic charges.

Shocker... McNight has an arrest record dating back to 2006. His priors include possession of Marijuana, Driving with Fictitious Tags, 2 Trespassing Charges and Disorderly Conduct.

UPDATE: 3-6-2008- Abell is back in Charlotte in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

Roscoe Abell, a ranking member of the "Hidden Valley Kings" gang was arrested this morning in New York City.

Abell managed to elude arrest since last March, when he was indicted in Federal Court on numerous narcotic charges. Abell and 19 other 'Hidden Valley Gang' members were named in the indictment.

- Read DOJ Press Release
- Previous Post: 3/07: Hidden Valley Gang Bust

On September 24, 2007, the Scranton, PA division of the FBI issued a federal arrest warrant for Michael Sean Blakey, charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. On New Years Eve, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers arrested Blakey during a traffic stop in Charlotte.

Blakey was wanted for his alleged involvement in the death of a 7-month old boy. On June 4, 2007, the baby was rushed to a local hospital with a fracture to the left side of his skull and bleeding to the brain. Due to the severity of these injuries, the boy died on June 6, 2007. An autopsy concluded the child's cause of death was a traumatic brain injury and the death was ruled a homicide. - More Info -

Federal Authorities have arrested 39-year old Richard Lawrence Randall, who is believed to be the man responsible for robbing a Charlotte SunTrust Bank on October 10th.

Randall was arrested in a motel room in Odessa, TX after he had robbed another bank in Texas. Randall did not surrender to authorities quietly and was arrested after a long standoff with police. He is currently in the custody of U.S. Marshall Officers and will be extradited to North Carolina to face bank robbery charges.

Read More @ Odessa, TX Police Dept. Media Release & U.S. Marshals Press Release

On Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives arrested 38-year old Calvert Edwin Williams in connection with two recent bank robberies:

• 08/20/07: Wachovia Bank, 1500 Westinghouse Blvd.
• 08/23/07: First Charter Bank, Hwy 51 at Lawyers Rd.

Detectives identified similarities in the way the robberies were committed and had similar descriptions of the suspect from both robberies.

CMPD detectives worked with Mint Hill Police, the FBI and other jurisdictions to develop information about the robberies and suspect. Police say the investigation is continuing and could result in more charges as additional information is developed.

On May 20, 2007, a man was robbed and shot in the leg at the corner of 26th St. & N. Tryon St. The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Doctors had to amputate the victims leg due to the injuries he sustained from the shooting.

Yesterday, police arrested 27-year old Sherman Jerome Easter (R) and charged him with armed robbery and assault with serious injury. In addition, Easter is facing charges for felonious possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine and marijuana.

David Ray Thomas, 40, of Randleman, NC, was arrested by Federal Agents on Thursday. He is charged with committing three armed bank robberies at two different SunTrust Bank locations in the Charlotte area.

According to the criminal complaint filed by the US District Attorney’s Office, police have connected Thomas to three different bank robberies:

April 25, 2007- SunTrust Bank: 9617 Holly Point Dr., Huntersville
May 15, 2007- SunTrust Bank: 8121 Mallard Creek Rd., Charlotte
May 30, 2007- SunTrust Bank: 8121 Mallard Creek Rd., Charlotte

Court Documents: Criminal Complaint & US DOJ Press Release

UPDATE: 6-1-07: Terry Young was captured.

Police are looking for Terry Brodrick Young, (R) who is wanted by CMPD for murder. Investigators connected Young to the homicide that occurred on Columbus Circle in April.

Two other men, Jermaine Thompson and Jason Thompson were arrested earlier this month for their participation in the murder.

Police say Young is considered armed and dangerous. If you know his whereabouts or have any information that could help police, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Walter Fayall III, 24, was arrested in Charlotte early this morning on a Federal weapon charge, according to CMPD. Fayall is considered a 'person of interest' in the disappearance of a South Carolina constable.

The South Carolina constable named Robert Bailey, 67, disappeared after a traffic stop on Monday night. The volunteer police officer's patrol car was found burning at the scene of the traffic stop.

South Carolina Sheriff's Officers say they found the hat the officer wore to identify himself as a constable, along with two semi-automatic handguns, bullet casings and a lot of blood scattered in the street. Officials say the shell casings appear to have come from two guns, one of them Bailey's.

UPDATE: 4/28/07- Police have arrested Antoine Williams. He is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

On Tuesday, two armed black male suspects forced entry into a residence on Orchard Trace Lane. The men demanded money and property from the victims. In addition, one of the victims was physically and sexually assaulted by one of the suspects.

Police have identified Antoine Marquis Williams (R) as one of the suspects in this case. Williams is 18 years old, 5'7" and approx 180 pounds. He is further described as having six fingers on both hands.

He is wanted on charges of Armed Robbery, First Degree Rape, First Degree Sex Offense, First Degree Kidnapping, First Degree Burglary, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Antoine Williams, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

UPDATE: Elijah Black (L) was apprehended today when he surrendered to SWAT team members after a brief standoff at the Brookshire Inn Motel, located off of Brookshire Boulevard. The incident began this afternoon around 12:15 pm and Black was placed under arrest at approximately 1:25 pm.

Detectives developed information early this morning and learned Black was staying at the Brookshire Inn Motel and that he was armed with a sawed off shotgun.

Police say they evacuated the motel as a SWAT negotiator made contact with Black. The negotiator was able to convince Black to come out of the room and surrender peacefully. After Mr. Black surrendered, a search of his motel room yielded a sawed off shotgun and a paint ball gun. Traffic in the area was shut down for a little over an hour. Once the suspect was in custody and his room secured, traffic was allowed to flow again.

On Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police captured Tavarus Simpson. Simpson was one of CMPD's '10 Most Wanted' and his case appeared on America's Most Wanted.

Police say tips from the America's Most Wanted show that aired on March 24th led police to Simpson. Officers with the Hornet's Nest Task Force, Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and SWAT took Simpson into custody at an apartment on Waterford Lakes Drive. Simpson surrendered peacefully after a half-hour standoff.

Simpson is currently in the Mecklenburg County Jail. His bail is set at $455,000. - View previous post for more info about Simpson's crime.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested a man who was on the CMPD '10 Most Wanted' List yesterday. Richard Michael Leu, 27, (R) was wanted by police for shooting someone in the leg with an assault rifle in 2005.

Leu was released from jail on bond and failed to show up for court to face his charges; Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury, Assault by Pointing a Gun and Communicating Threats.

Leu is the second 'wanted' criminal captured this week. Preston Ramone Caldwell,19, was arrested on Monday. He was wanted by CMPD for robbing and shooting at a couple in July 2006.

Caldwell is facing charges of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon-Business and (2) Counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill.