Habitual Offender Arrested; Thanks to Citizen Witness

Brandon Howard

On April 28, 2011, at approx. 4:30 pm, Providence Division officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to a report of a larceny from auto in the 3400 block Wheatley Avenue. The victim stated he was transporting a wheel chair to a disabled child when he returned to his vehicle, he found his briefcase, wallet and computer missing from the vehicle.

A neighbor who witnessed the incident identified the suspect as 23-year old Brandon Ramone Howard and told officers where he lived.  Officers responded to 3123 Rodman Street and located the suspect.  Howard told Officers he was babysitting two children at the time and gave officers consent to search the residence and his person. Officers subsequently recovered all of the victim's stolen property from an oven drawer in the kitchen of the residence and on the suspect himself.  Brandon Howard was charged with Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle and Larceny after Breaking and Entering.

*** According to the NC Department of Corrections records,  Brandon Howard is a habitual repeat offender in Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County and Guilford County.  Since 2004, Howard has accumulated over 15 separate charges relating to breaking & entering, credit card theft, etc. In addition, he is a habitual probation violator... but somehow he continues to end up back on the streets!?  Let's hope DA Murray puts an end to that cycle!

This arrest illustrates what can be accomplished when the community and police work together. Officers would have had a difficult time bringing this case to resolution had it not been for an engaged neighbor willing to get involved.  THANK YOU willing witness!!