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.

On Tuesday, CMPD Officers went to serve warrants on 41-year old Charles Allen Hall at a home on Sugar Creek Road. The warrants were related to his involvement in several catalytic converter thefts.

Hall refused to exit the home and a 5-hour SWAT Standoff (Tax $$'s) ensued. Finally, Officers found Hall hiding in the attic and took him into custody. Hall was released two days later and he is out walking the streets of Charlotte.

Hall is one of Charlotte's most notorious habitual repeat offenders. His criminal career began when he was a teenager and he is still going strong at age 41... According to my calculations, Hall has at least 49 arrests on his NC record since 1983. He has served some jail time over the past 20 years but his charges far outweigh his punishments.

Charles Hall is another great example of how the NC Justice System is failing us! Hall is a career criminal who has victimized person after person for the past 25 years and he continues to get away with it! Read his record and see for yourself.
View: [pdf] [Word]

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?

Meet Michael George Robinson, Jr. (Top) He is only 16-years old but he's been locked up 7 times in the past 10 months. He's accumulated 14 felony charges and several misdemeanors.

Robinson's crimes include breaking & entering, larceny, drugs, conspiracy, hit & run and several other traffic violations and misdemeanors. Junior is known to victimize the residents of his neighborhood (McGinnis Village) by breaking into cars and homes in the area.

I'm not quite sure what to think of this one... the address listed on his Nov 15, 2006 arrest record is that of his Mother's day care, Kiddie Cul-de-Sac, located on David Earl Dr. I sure hope he isn't still living there. I wouldn't want my children anywhere near him!

Meet Junior's Father, Michael George Robinson, Sr. (Bottom) He doesn't have a long criminal record like his son (at least not in North Carolina) but he has been arrested a couple of times in the past few years.

Teens like Michael Robinson should concern all of us. This kid has absolutely no respect for law or other people's property and obviously he has no intentions of changing his ways. It doesn't look like Junior has any parental guidance, at least where his father is concerned.

And... how many felony charges does it take to keep this thug off the streets for a while? I guess we'll find out!

Joseph Keith Perry became acquainted with police when he was 16-years old. He was arrested for stealing a car. At age 18, he was caught carrying a weapon on school grounds.

When Perry was 19-years old, he was out robbing and raping people at gunpoint. Police say Perry approached a man and a woman as they were working on a cell tower site off Brookshire Blvd. Perry held them at gunpoint, took their vehicle and abducted the female victim.

As Perry drove away with the female, the male attempted to help her and Perry fired several shots at him. Perry then took the female to a cemetery off of Beatties Ford Rd, where he sexually assaulted her at gunpoint. The brutal attack occurred in 2003, however, he was not forensically connected to the crime until this month.

Somehow, Perry managed to avoid police for two years. My guess is he skipped town after the robbery and rape. He was back in business when he turned 21. He was arrested three times; once for selling drugs and twice for assaulting a female. When Perry was 22, he violated a protection order. Now... Perry is 23-years old and facing charges which could land him in prison for the rest of his life!

Perry's Criminal Career:
· Age 16: Arrested for stealing a car
· Age 17: Convicted of receiving a stolen vehicle– Received probation
· Age 18: Convicted of possessing a weapon on campus – Received probation
· Age 19: Committed an armed robbery, rape and assault against two victims. – Arrested in ‘07
· Age 21: Arrested for selling, possessing and delivering cocaine
· Age 21: Arrested for assault on a female & possession of marijuana
· Age 22: Convicted of selling drugs- Received probation
· Age 22: Convicted of assaulting a female- Received probation
· Age 22: Arrested again for assaulting a female
· Age 23: Arrested for violating a domestic protection order
· Age 23: Arrested for a terrible and violent crime he committed when he was 19. He is facing charges of: Robbery, first and second degree kidnapping, first and second degree sex offenses, first and second degree rape, assault on a female, felonious restraint and assault with a deadly weapon- with the intent to kill.

Thanks to Judge Linwood O. Foust, Holly Mitchell (R) claimed another victim today. Holly was arrested this morning on felony breaking and entering, larceny and conspiracy charges.

In January, Judge Foust had the opportunity to send Mitchell to jail for 5-6 months for violating his probation. CMPD Officers, Prosecutors and Probation Officers recommended Judge Foust lock Mitchell up! Foust chose to ignore the expert opinions and instead sentenced Holly Mitchell to 10 days of weekend jail time.

It didn’t take long for Mitchell to make a fool out of the thug hugging Judge Linwood Foust. Holly was arrested in March for breaking & entering and again today. He is only 18 years old but he has a criminal record a mile long… stealing cars, breaking into homes, bringing an assault rifle to a football game, assaulting people, carrying guns and selling drugs… and this is only in the past two years. His juvenile record is another story!

Holly Mitchell is pure thug! He makes his living selling drugs and he steals from others to get what he wants. He continues to prove he isn’t trying to better himself by going out and committing more crimes. How far do people like Holly Mitchell have to go before they receive a punishment other than probation? One of these days, Holly will do something that will give Judge Linwood Foust nightmares!

All Holly Mitchell posts: March 6, 2007 – February 3, 2007 – November 15, 2006 – October 6, 2006

If you have read this blog for any length of time, you are familiar with the name Kendrick Omar Hammond. Hammond is one of the many career criminals in Charlotte who passed through the Mecklenburg County Court system’s revolving door for a long time!

Last October, Kendrick Hammond finally did himself in. According to the case documents, Hammond was pulled over by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers on October 4, 2006. Hammond’s original infraction was for not wearing his seat belt but the traffic stop turned out to be much more than a seat belt violation.

Two CMPD officers were inside the patrol car when they signaled for the vehicle Hammond was driving to pull over. As the two officers approached the vehicle, they smelled alcohol and observed an open beer container in the cup holder. One of the officers asked Hammond for his license and registration and he told the officer he did not have a license.

Hammond was then ordered by the police officers to get out of his car in order to arrest him for the open container and to determine whether he was impaired. Hammond exited the vehicle and as the police officer was conducting a frisk for weapons, a bag of crack cocaine fell out of Hammond’s shorts or underwear. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a small bag of marijuana and two Ecstasy pills in the cup holder.

CMPD police cars are equipped with video cameras that automatically turn on when an officer activates the blue lights. The video camera recorded the entire traffic stop, including the drugs falling from Hammond’s shorts. This video tape will haunt Kendrick Hammond for the rest of his life!

Last December, the federal court got involved in the case and indicted Kendrick Hammond on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The evidence against Hammond was overwhelming, including the video tape and his past criminal record, including previous drug offenses.

In spite of the mound of evidence against him, Hammond entered a plea of ‘not guilty.’ Hammond and his attorney filed several motions for the court to dismiss the evidence against him but their requests were denied.

The trial of USA -vs- Kendrick Omar Hammond was set to commence this week. On Wednesday morning, a jury pool was agreed upon and the trial was set to begin after the lunch break. Apparently, Hammond saw the light while eating his lunch because he returned to the courtroom and changed his plea to GUILTY!

The charges against Hammond carry a prison term of ten years to life, however, based on Hammond’s prior convictions, the prosecution requested Hammond serve at least 24 years in federal prison. Over the next few months, the pre-sentencing process will occur and the courts will compile information about Hammond’s prior convictions, family history, background, probability of re-offending, etc. This information will be used by the Judge to determine a proper sentence. Finally, Kendrick Omar Hammond is getting what he deserves… a nice long stay in prison.

Federal Court Documents:
Federal Indictment, Prior Drug Convictions Info, Defense Motion to Suppress Evidence & Government Response, Government’s Motion In Limine

Since August of 2005, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have arrested 35-year old Bridgett Nicole Evans 31 times!! All of the fifty-seven charges against her were misdemeanors except two charges involving possession of crack/cocaine.

Evans' misdemeanor charges vary from possession of drug paraphernalia, prostitution, assault on a child, communicating threats, indecent exposure, intoxicated and disruptive, etc.

According to the NC Department of Corrections website, Bridgett Evans was convicted of only two of her criminal charges since 2001. In November 2006, Evans was sentenced for a 2001 drug paraphernalia charge and received 12 months probation. In February 2007, Evans pled guilty to another possession of drug paraphernalia charge and received 12 months probation to run concurrently with her first sentence!

Now, I realize Evans' charges are not 'serious' offenses but when and where do we draw the line? Our tax dollars go to work each time a criminal is arrested. We pay for the time spent by the police officer to arrest the suspect and bring them downtown to get processed and fill out paperwork. Then, we pay for the magistrate who sets a bail. After that, we pay for the Sheriff's Officers to process the prisoner and give them clothes, a bed, a hot meal and cable TV!

Once a person is released from jail, we continue to pay for their problems. Our taxes pay for the DA's Office to work the case, we pay for the accused's Defense Attorney (most of the time) we pay Judges, Court Officers, Police Officers to appear in court...

I could go on and on but I'm sure you get my point! How much money do you think Bridgett Evans has cost us in State, City and Federal taxes with her 31 arrests, 57 charges in 19 months?

Evans isn't the only one with a misdemeanor arrest record a mile long. In the past three years, police have arrested William Owens 38 times; Robert Morrison King (Photo R) 37 times; Robert Gregory Brown 25 times; and Crystal Chumley 25 times...

On January 14th, I wrote about Jeffrey Lawrence Brooks. He is the repeat violent criminal who was featured on America's Most Wanted and listed on CMPD's 10 Most Wanted List...

Brooks nearly killed a man but that didn't matter to a Mecklenburg County Judge- who reduced his bail and basically set him free 30 days later.

Tara Servatius followed up on the story and Creative Loafing published an article with her findings. Tara's article, 'Judges Gone Wild' reveals some very troubling information about one of our District Court Judges...

From Tara's article:
" ...District Court Judge Philip F. Howerton Jr. saw things differently. Unlike the police department, the magistrate and the folks at America's Most Wanted, he apparently wasn't concerned enough about Brooks' potential for violence to keep him in jail..." <Read More>

6News published an article today with details on two of the people involved in the police chase & standoff on Friday. The suspects, who are a couple- both have criminal records.

Sharika Byrd is the 18 year old pregnant woman who was riding in the backseat of the car at the time of the chase. She was arrested immediately after the crash and was cited for resisting a public officer. She told 6News she did not know the vehicle was stolen. Her story is hard to believe considering Byrd is no angel. She has 9 arrests since 2004. She was arrested for some serious offenses including several arrests for possession of a stolen vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen vehicle, unlawful concealment and more.

According to the NC Dept. of Corrections website, Byrd was only prosecuted for one of her many felonies (larceny of a motor vehicle) with a suspended sentence and 36 months probation. Her sentence started in January of 2005 so I would think her involvement with this crime would be a probation violation but she is still out on the streets.

The driver of the car during the chase was Byrd's 18 year old boyfriend, Eric Clay. He was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and seven other charges after leading police on a 30-minute chase. He sure knows how to care for his girlfriend and her unborn baby, doesn't he? Clay was captured by police in the woods behind one of the homes.

NC Department of Corrections records show Clay was released from prison in September after serving nearly five years for armed robbery. Records indicate Clay was arrested in 2001 for a robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was 13 years old!

Mecklenburg County Jail records indicate Clay was arrested again less than two weeks after his release from prison. He was charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or distribute, and was released on a $20,000 bond. Police were still investigating whether Clay is connected to a series of break-ins and robberies in Uptown Charlotte. And they are having a baby...

Our favorite repeat offender Kendrick Omar Hammond was arrested again today! He was arrested for possession of marijuana and driving without a license.

- Read Hammond's Criminal History
- E-mail District Attorney Peter Gilchrist

If you haven't already, please read Tara Servatius' article about repeat offender Kendrick Omar Hammond. (Left) The article was published by Creative Loafing today. As always- Tara does an excellent job of explaining 'how' Charlotte's criminal justice system has turned from bad to worse.
- Click here to view post with Kendrick Hammond's criminal background information.

Last Tuesday, I posted about a warning from CMPD about Donald Patton. Police warned of his extensive criminal record and purse snatching abilities from victims all over Charlotte.

Patton was arrested AGAIN today with a misdemeanor charge of larceny. I do not have any details about the cause for his arrest, but I can assume...

Updated 10/30/06- It is worse than I thought! I received an e-mail from a woman who lives in the Belmont area of Charlotte and she told me the people in that area are very familiar with Kendrick Hammond. She said he is "one of those guys that if you see, you should run... not walk... to get away from him."

On that note- I decided it was time to move from the "free" information websites and purchase information on Hammond's Criminal History. I've updated his criminal history information for your reading pleasure... Please note the number of dismissals, especially the 8/18/02 murder charge that was dismissed!! As always, please feel free to copy and paste this information in your e-mails to our elected officials as another example of why we need to see change and more funding for our court system! Remember ... Kendrick Hammond is on the streets of Charlotte right now!
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The habitual repeat offender that I would like to focus on today is 26 year old Kendrick Omar Hammond. According to the NC Dept of Corrections Website, Hammond's first serious run in with the law was in 1998- when Hammond was 18 years old.

Since 1998, Hammond has been arrested by CMPD at least 45 times! Not all the charges are serious but they are still arrests!!! What can Charlotte do with these habitual repeat offenders who waste our tax dollars and police resources?

ARRESTS - SENTENCES - JAIL TIME

- 8/27/98- Assault & Battery - Fined $80
- 10/16/98- Carrying a concealed weapon, operate vehicle w/o license- Dismissed
- 11/07/98 - Common law robbery, Poss. w/ intent to distribute cocaine- 2 years probation
- 11/28/98- Poss. of stolen goods, operate vehicle w/o license - Dismissed
- 12/12/98- Resisting public officer - Dismissed
- 3/24/99- Poss. with intent to distribute cocaine, poss. of drug paraphernalia, operate vehicle w/o license- Dismissed
- 7/30/99- Driving without a license - Fined $86.00
- 11/08/99- Robbery with dangerous weapon - Dismissed
- 2/16/00- Driving while license revoked- Dismissed
- 2/19/00 - Driving while license revoked- Fined $86.00
- 5/18/00- Poss. of stolen goods, poss. of drug paraphernalia - Dismissed
- 6/06/00- Poss. w/intent to distribute cocaine, Driving w/o license, fictitious info to officer – Probation
- 6/23/00- Driving while license revoked - Dismissed
- 8/02/00- Assault on a female - Dismissed
- 10/28/00- Poss. of stolen goods, carrying a concealed weapon- Dismissed
- 11/03/00- 2 counts: Robbery with a dangerous weapon- Dismissed
- 11/30/00- Robbery with a dangerous weapon - Dismissed
- 12/26/01- Driving while license revoked - Dismissed
- 5/28/01- Poss. of a firearm by felon, 2 Counts Robbery w/dangerous weapon, assault with deadly weapon- intent to kill - Dismissed
- 6/16/01- Resisting Public Officer - 20 days in Jail
- 6/06/02- Hit & Run (Principal), Driving while license revoked- 36 months probation.
- 8/07/02- Driving while license revoked- Dismissed
- 8/18/02 - First Degree MURDER, Assault with a deadly weapon- intent to kill - Dismissed
- 10/03/02- Breaking & Entering & Resisting Public Officer- Dismissed
- 5/27/03- DWI (Level 4), Poss. of stolen goods, driving while license revoked- 12 months probation for DUI. Other 2 charges dismissed.
- 7/26/03- Assault on a Female- Dismissed
- 8/11/03- Driving while license revoked- Dismissed
- 3/02/04 – DWI, Resisting Public Officer, Probation Violation
- 3/26/04 - Probation Violation - Dismissed
- 3/29/04 – Intoxicated & Disruptive- Dismissed
- 4/10/04 – Assault w/ deadly weapon- Serious injury - Dismissed
- 4/22/04 – Robbery w/ dangerous weapon, Assault- Inflict serious bodily harm, Assault with a deadly weapon (gun), Resist Public Officer, Hit & Run
* 4/22/04- 07/16/04- IN JAIL
- 8/20/04 – Resisting Public Officer, Robbery with dangerous weapon, Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Hit & Run
* 8/20/04 – 12/1/04- IN JAIL
- 1/30/05 – Driving while license revoked- Dismissed
- 4/05/05- Possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- 5/06/05 – Injury to personal property, Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
* 5/06/05- 05/13/05- IN JAIL
- 5/23/05 - Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Recording of live performance, Injury to personal property
* 05/23/05 – 02/22/06- IN JAIL
- 3/07/06 – Contempt of Court- Driving while license revoked
- 4/24/06 - Assault on a Female
- 5/05/06- Communicating Threats
- 5/19/06- Possession with intent to distribute cocaine
* 5/19/06 – 5/23/06 – IN JAIL
- 6/14/06 - Driving while license revoked
- 9/07/06- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- 10/04/06- Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of marijuana, open container of alcoholic beverage
- 10/24/06- Driving while license revoked

Maggie Elizabeth Thompson, age 18, was arrested last night for prostitution, carrying a concealed weapon and resisting a police officer. As I normally do, I took a look at her prior arrests. Come to find out... Maggie Thompson has been prostituting herself since she was 16 years old! I have a hard time looking at the arrest records when I see a young woman who has been arrested for prostitution 7 times before her 18th birthday! This is very, very sad.

Please note the amount of time she has spent in jail. Obviously, she was not bailed out when she was arrested like the violent criminals are. On a few of arrests, her address is listed as "homeless." How does this happen? What can be done to help these young women who prostitute themselves or young men who carry guns to school? I am saddened to have to report this kind of stuff but I think it is important for people to know what is happening in Charlotte.

Maggie's first arrest was on April 6, 2005. (Photo Left) She looks like a typical pimple faced 16 year old but she was arrested for soliciting for prostitution, soliciting for crimes against nature and aid/abed prostitution (see comments for definitions) She spent 7 days in jail.

One day after she was released from jail, on April 13, 2005, Maggie was arrested again for soliciting a crime against nature and spent 2 days in jail. Two months later, on June 14, 2005, she was arrested for soliciting for a crime against nature. She spent 15 days in jail. One month later, on July 11, 2005, Maggie was arrested again for soliciting for prostitution and soliciting for crimes against nature. She spent 9 days in jail and this was her last arrest as a 16 year old.

Eight months later, at age 17, (Photo Right) Maggie was arrested again. On April 16, 2006, she was arrested for soliciting for prostitution and she spent 16 days in jail. Two months after that, on June 11, 2006, she was arrested for loitering for solicitation of prostitution and spent 26 days in jail. On September 23, 2006, she was charged with her first and only drug related arrest- for possession of drug paraphernalia. She spent two days in jail. Her next arrest, now 18 years old, was last night. She is currently being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

Police are warning people across Charlotte to be on the lookout for a man who's been charged with 45 different crimes over nearly 25 years, but he is out on bond again... Donald Louis Patton has an arrest record dating back to the 1970's, mostly for crimes that victimized people where they work, which is why people who work in businesses around uptown are especially on alert.

Officer Shawn Franklin with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Patton most often gets accused of swiping wallets or purses from office buildings while no one is looking. "Believe it or not, this is (some criminals) job, so they know what they're looking for when they walk in," he said.
Patton's latest arrest came last week when police say he stole a woman's purse from her desk at an office in South End. Two months ago police arrested him after they say he walked into a cosmetology school on Kings Drive and stole students' wallets.

Despite Patton's lengthy criminal history, he is not considered a habitual felon because he has not been convicted of a felony three consecutive times. Patton has mostly been charged with misdemeanors. After someone has been convicted of three felonies back-to-back, a jury can decide to label them a habitual felon. This means the next time they are convicted of a felony- up to six additional years can be added to their sentence. - WSOC-TV

Here is a perfect example of a man we do not need on the streets of Charlotte: Michael Ramirez, Age 19.

Since Michael Ramirez's 16th birthday- he has been arrested 8 times. (I have no way of knowing if he had a criminal record as a juvenile but it would not surprise me if he did.) In 1994, at 16 years old, he was arrested 6 times for stealing 20 cars & many assault with a deadly weapon charges.

The court system finally took him seriously after the 6th arrest when he stole 16 cars and he was locked him up for a year. He was released from jail in May of this year and has been arrested twice since - the latest arrest this past week. Clearly, this man lives a life of crime, he has victimized at least 21 people and yet he still roams the streets of Charlotte.

ARRESTS - SENTENCES - JAIL TIME:

3/29/04- Assault with a deadly weapon. No punishment.

5/14/04- Possession of a stolen vehicle & assault with a deadly weapon. No punishment.