Police Looking for Robbery & Assault Suspects

UPDATE: Suspects arrested: Deangelo Cohens, Wilbert Blackmon (Mugshots are shown in slide show)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers are looking for the men shown in the photos below. Police say the men are involved in an armed robbery & assault that occurred on September 27th. The victim sustained serious injuries after he was robbed at gunpoint and assaulted by several black males in the 1700 block of The Plaza.

If you recognize any of the suspects in the shown photographs, please call Crime Stoppers immediately at (704) 334-1600.

Have a Safe & Happy Halloween!

* North Carolina Sex Offender Registry
* South Carolina Sex Offender Registry
* Mecklenburg County 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders
* National Safety Council Halloween Safety Tips
* National Sex Offender Registry

** The Youth Curfew is still in effect tonight. All kids under the age of 16 must be home (or accompanied by a parent) by 11:00 pm.

** In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Sheriff Deputies will go door-to-door to make sure registered sex offenders are where they’re supposed to be. At this time, Mecklenburg County has 660 registered sex offenders. Only 112 of the registered sex offenders are on probation/parole and are required to keep their lights out & not participate in Halloween festivities tonight.

Make sure you check the sex offender registry because the remaining 548 registered sex offenders are not necessarily required to stay inside with the lights out...

Police Looking for Break-In Suspect

CMPD is asking for help in identifying and locating the man shown above. Police say the suspect is responsible for a break-in at a South Charlotte home on October 24th and they believe the suspect is also responsible for several other break-ins in the area.

If you have any information, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. (View Pic)

Murder/Suicide at the Roseland Apartments

At 8:00 pm, police were called to the Roseland Apartments, located on Rose Thorn Place. Neighbors called police when they saw a man and woman fighting in the parking lot. The man shot the woman several times before shooting himself.

Police arrived and found the shooter, Mario Jermaine Bertha and victim Terrie Dewberry Bertha, suffering from serious gunshot wounds. Mario Bertha (R) died at the scene and Terrie Bertha died at the hospital. Police say Mario and Terrie Bertha were married.

Teen Hit in Drive-by Shooting

A 14-year old boy was shot early Saturday morning during a drive-by shooting on Fincher Blvd.

Police say the boy and a group of others were having a party when someone inside a black Ford Taurus shot at the group. The 14-year old was shot in the hip and is expected to be okay.

If you have any information about the shooting, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Recent Arrests in Charlotte, NC

Name : MONGA, DIANE
* POSSESSION OF WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS (CHAR-MECK)
* INJURY TO PERSONAL PROPERTY

Name : COSBY, CYNTHIA DENISE

* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL
* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON

Name : COOK, JEREMIAH R

* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON
* 2X's: ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL

Name : MILLER, RUSSELL WILLIAM

* ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON-SERIOUS INJURY - GUN

* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON

* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON

Name : MCCOREY, HORACE LEETREZ

* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON
* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
* POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON

More Charges for Former CMPD Officer

Former CMPD Officer LeShunda Austin (R) was arrested again yesterday and faces three additional charges related to her filing a false police report earlier this month.

The additional charges include; filing a false police report, obstruction of justice and accessing a government computer in an attempt to defraud.

The obstruction of justice and accessing computer charges are felonies. Austin was arrested earlier this month for filing a false police report- a misdemeanor. (Read More)

Woman Killed on Hovis Road-- Arrest Made

UPDATE: Police have arrested 27-year old Shaun Paul Splain (R) and charged him for the murder of Eleanor Parish. Parish was found slain in her mobile home last December.

After killing Ms. Parish, Shaun Splain fled from Charlotte to Ruskin, Florida. CMPD issued an arrest warrant earlier this month and authorities in Hillsborough County, Florida arrested Splain without incident. He was extradited to Charlotte and arrived at the Mecklenburg County Jail on Tuesday.

12/15/2007:
A 70-year old woman was found dead early this morning in her mobile home, located on Hovis Rd. Police say a neighbor called them after she hadn't seen nor heard from her elderly neighbor.

Police arrived and found Eleanor Jannette Parrish deceased. The death is being investigated as a homicide but police did not provide any details as to the cause of her death.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene and began canvassing the neighborhood for the suspect and questioning neighbors. The crime lab responded to collect evidence from the crime scene.

If you have any information, please call Charlotte Crime Stoppers anonymously at 704-334-1600. ** Photographer Jonathan Jones was at the scene and shared the shown photos.

Recent Arrests in Charlotte, NC

Name : MCBRIDE, TERRANCE GEROD
* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON-BUSINESS/OTHER PLACE

Name : ERICKS, JOHN P

* SOLICIT - CRIME AGAINST NATURE










Name : ABRAHAM, CLIFTON J
- Total of 16 charges -
* ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEAPON ON GOVT.OFFICER/EMP.-OTHER
* BREAK/ENTER MOTOR VEHICLE - $200 & UP
* POSSESSING STOLEN FIREARM
* FLEE/ELUDE ARREST WITH MOTOR VEHICLE






Name : REVAN, OMARI
* POSSESSION OF WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS (CHAR-MECK)

Name : IANNONE, MICHAEL JOSEPH
* PUBLIC MASTURBATION

Name : EALEY, CURTIS LEE
* BREAKING AND/OR ENTERING- WITH FORCE
* ASSAULT ON A FEMALE - AGG.PHYS.FORCE
* KIDNAPPING - SECOND DEGREE
* RAPE-2ND DEGREE BY FORCE AGAINST WILL OF VICTIM

Clearview Federal Credit Union on Boyer St. Robbed

At approximately 11:20 this morning, the Clearview Federal Credit Union located at 2830 Boyer Street was robbed by a lone male. The FBI said the suspect entered the bank and presented one of the bank tellers with a demand note. The note indicated the suspect was armed, however, no weapon was observed or displayed during the robbery.

After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect exited the bank and entered the front passenger seat of the getaway vehicle, which was in the parking lot of the bank. The getaway vehicle was a large black SUV that had a distinctive white strip along the side of the vehicle. Since the suspect entered the passenger side of the vehicle, it is inferred that there was at last one other individual in the vehicle. There were no injuries as a result of the robbery.

The suspect was described as a black male, approx. 5’6”-5'7,” heavy build and 20's in age. At the time of the robbery, the suspect was wearing a black baseball cap, a white long-sleeved shirt, blue-jean pants, and light-brown or tan Timberline boots. The suspect and the getaway vehicle are shown in the photos above. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the FBI at 704-377-9200.

Recent Arrests in Charlotte, NC

Name : BURKE, JOSEPH DENNIS
* STAT RAPE/SEX OFFN DEF >=6YR
* INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH CHILD
* SEX OFFENSE - PARENTAL ROLE









Name : BRADLEY, ARON LEE
- Bail set @ $500,000 -
* C/S-SCH II- TRAFFICKING IN COCAINE
* C/S-SCH II- CONSPIRE TO TRAFFIC COCAINE









Name : STEVENSON, WENDELL LAMONT
* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
* CONSPIRACY-ARMED ROBBERY BUSINESS/PERSON
* POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON








Name : MARTIN, KEVIN PATRICK
* CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON - GUN
* POSSESSION OF WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS (CHAR-MECK)

Name : LOUIS, DAVONTE
Alias: WILSON, RAMON DIMITRICK
-Repeat Offender-
* ROBBERY (COMMON LAW) (FELONY)
* ASSAULT ON A FEMALE - AGG.PHYS.FORCE








Name : HOOD, MARQUIS JAVAUGHN
* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
* 2X's: CONSPIRACY-ARMED ROBBERY BUSINESS/PERSON

Bank of America Robbed in South Charlotte

A Bank of America branch located at 11020 Golf Links Drive was robbed this afternoon around 2:00 pm.

The FBI said a black male armed with a revolver entered the bank, approached one of the bank tellers and demanded money from the teller at gunpoint.

After the man obtained an undisclosed amount of money, he fled the bank on foot. Police believe the suspect had a getaway vehicle parked nearby.

The suspect was described as a black male, approx. 5’10” & 160 pounds. The man was 40's in age and wearing dark clothing. If you have any information regarding this case, please call the FBI at 704-377-9200 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Recent Arrests in Charlotte, NC

Name : COBBS, ERIC NATHANIEL

* POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON
* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
* CONSPIRACY-ARMED ROBBERY BUSINESS/PERSON
* ASSAULT OR SIMPLE ASSAULT AND BATTERY - AGG.PHYS.FORCE

Name : MCDOWELL, TYRONE C

* 2X's: ROBBERY (COMMON LAW)

* CONSPIRACY

Name : GARCIA, MICHAEL D

* 2X's: ROBBERY (COMMON LAW)
* CONSPIRACY

Name : SMITH, WILLIAM ALEXANDER
* CONSPIRACY-ARMED ROBBERY BUSINESS/PERSON
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON-BUSINESS/OTHER PLACE

Name : WATKINS, JASON MARCUS

* 2X's: ROBBERY (COMMON LAW)
* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON

Name : WILLIAMS, KAI D

* 2X's: ROBBERY (COMMON LAW)

* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON

Four Men Arrested after Uptown Aerial Protest

A group of protesters from the Rainforest Action Network were arrested in Center City this morning after hanging from a crane to protest Bank of America and their support of coal mining companies.

The four men are not from Charlotte but climbed a crane at the Ritz-Carlton construction site on College Street around 6:30 am. They hung a banner with the message: "Bank of America, Funding Coal, Killing Communities."

The four men arrested and charged with trespassing are as follows: Matthew Joseph Leonard (Emeryville, CA); Brian Glenn Wallin (Asheville, NC); Joshua Daniel Rumschlag (Clearwater, FL); and John Allen Watterberg (Brooklyn, NY)

Photo Credit & More Info/Photos @ The Charlotte Observer

Man Shot & Killed on Eastway Drive

On Sunday evening, David Costello Colbert, 20, was shot in the 700 block of Eastway Drive. A witness drove Colbert to the CMPD substation located on North Tryon Street.

David Colbert was pronounced dead outside the police station. Police are still looking for suspects.

If you have any information that could help police, please call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 704-334-1600.

Man Arrested after Setting Fire to Apartments

Early Saturday morning, Charlotte Fire Department responded to an apartment complex on West 26th Street after two fires were intentionally set. No residents were hurt in the fire.

Police arrested James Otis Gladden at the scene of the fire and charged him with fire degree arson, malicious use of explosive damage property and misuse of the 911 system. His bail was set at $55,000.

Recent Arrests in Charlotte, NC

Name : AYERS, ALARIC B

* AID AND ABET PROSTITUTION
* MAINTAIN PLACE FOR PROSTITUTION









Name : JONES, RAYMOND VERNON

* 4X's: ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON-BUSINESS/OTHER PLACE
* 4 X's: KIDNAPPING - SECOND DEGREE








Name : GUADARRAMA-RETA, ROSENDO


* INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH CHILD









Name : GEBHARDT, CRAIG WILLIAM

* PROSTITUTION - SOLICITING FOR
* C/S-SCH VI- POSSESS MARIJUANA









Name : CUNHA, VIVIANE MASHADO

* PROSTITUTION - SOLICITING FOR










Name : BOWDEN, STEPHONIA SANTOINE
* CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON-BUSINESS/OTHER PLACE

Domestic Homicide on Cross Winds Road

Early this morning, police were called to 3301 Cross Winds Road after neighbors called 911 when they heard gunshots.

Upon arrival, police found 40-year old Richard Louis Deas deceased inside the residence. Police say he was shot several times and died as a result of his injuries.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested Markese Donnell Rice, 27, and charged him with Deas' murder. Police have classified the murder as a domestic homicide, however, they are not commenting on the relationship between Deas and Rice.

Recent Arrests in Charlotte, NC

Name : ARCHIE, FREDRICK JEROME
* 4 X's: ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL

* 4 X's: KIDNAPPING - SECOND DEGREE
* ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON-BUSINESS/OTHER PLACE

Name : ROBINSON, JARVIS

* RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER
* ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEAPON ON GOVT.OFFICER/EMP.-GUN

Name : JORDAN, RICHARD HENRY
* 6X's: ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL
* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
* 2X's: CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON









Name : HAYDEN, NAJEE JAMIL
* POSSESSION OF WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

Name : HAMPTON, CHARLES

* 6X's: ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL
* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON

* 2X's: CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON

Name : HAMES, LONNIE EUGENE

* 6X's: ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON--INDIVIDUAL

* ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
* 2X's: CONSP ROBBERY DANGEROUS WEAPON

Crime Blotter: 10/15/07-10/18/07

Click on the links below to view some of the significant crimes reported by CMPD:

► Monday, October 15th
► Tuesday, October 16th
► Wednesday, October 17th
► Thursday, October 18th

Billingsley Road Rapist Arrested

Yesterday morning, a 29-year old woman was brutally raped and beaten with a 2x4 in the Grier Heights neighborhood.

Police say Jequan Sloan (Top) attacked the women on Billingsley Road and brought her to an abandoned apartment where he raped her. The woman attempted to flee after the attack but the rapist caught up with her outside and beat her repeatedly with a 2x4.

Jequan Sloan is charged with attempted murder, rape, sex offense, kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a felon. Sloan is in the Mecklenburg County Jail without bond. In the past three years, Sloan has been arrested 11 times, however, the charges are mostly traffic related.

In addition, CMPD detectives arrested Kevin Martel Laney (Bottom) in connection with the attack. Laney has been arrested by CMPD 18 times in the past three years!

Laney is charged with accessory after the fact and possession of a firearm by a felon. His bond is set at $100,000.

Former CMS Teacher Sentenced to 20-years for Sex Charges

In Federal Court today, Jimmie Vance Grubbs, 67, a former CMS school teacher was sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison, followed by a supervised release term of life.

Grubbs entered a guilty plea to 12 separate federal criminal counts alleging interstate transportation of a minor for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual activity and illicit sexual conduct.

During the sentencing hearing, the government presented testimony and evidence showing that Grubbs had been molesting boys since the 1970's- and continued to molest boys throughout the 1980's, 1990's... up to 2004. In all, the government presented evidence that Grubbs had molested at least six boys over the past three decades in addition to the five boys alleged in the Indictment.

In handing down today’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. noted that Grubbs’ abuse of boys took place at Grubbs’ home, at the school where he taught language arts, at various churches, where he was a Sunday School teacher and Youth Group leader and on trips to Myrtle Beach and on trips to the University of South Carolina sporting events. Judge Conrad deemed Grubbs “the worst kind of predator.”

Federal Court Documents:
Indictment #1 - Indictment #2 - Plea Agreement - Sentencing Media Release