Today’s capture of Octavia Clipper marks 1,000 arrests for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT).At approximately 2:50 pm, VCAT apprehended Octavia Clipper, who was wanted for Armed Robbery. Clipper fled Charlotte to New York City with co-defendant Zaquan Harris. Harris was arrested in New York City on an unrelated Armed Robbery and remains incarcerated there.
Clipper quietly returned to Charlotte a few days ago. She was located and arrested without incident. Zaquan Harris will be returned to Charlotte to face Armed Robbery charges once his New York charges are resolved.
VCAT conducts fugitive recovery investigations and operations targeting the most violent offenders operating or located within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The unit maintains sworn status through the U.S. Marshal's Service in order to pursue individuals preying upon the citizens of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County wherever they may flee.
VCAT's primary mission is to facilitate the apprehension of individuals wanted for murder, rape, and armed robbery but may include additional violent felonies. If you have any information that can help capture these individuals, call 704-336-VCAT (8228).
The Team began work in 2005 as the Robbery Offender Apprehension Team, with the primary mission of locating and arresting the growing number of robbery suspects. In its first year, they made 270 arrests, including 88 for Robbery. Other arrests came as the Team worked in crime hotspots and developed intelligence that led them to make additional arrests for assault, felony weapons charges and drug charges.
In 2006, the Team made 346 arrests, taking some of our most prolific and/or violent criminals off the streets. As their expertise and focus evolved, investigative and patrol divisions began relying on them to locate and take into custody more and more violent offenders and in 2007, they became VCAT.