In turn, the tipsters become eligible for cash rewards while maintaining their anonymity and improving the quality of life in our community. A veteran police officer was assigned to the program and regularly goes door to door in the community working to generate leads in neighborhoods where specific crimes have occurred. This neighborhood engagement has built community trust in the Crime Stoppers program.
In 2011, the CMPD also began contributing funds to the program that allow the Crime Stoppers board to increase the reward amount paid to tipsters with information concerning open homicide cases of up to $5,000. Thanks to unprecedented community engagement, 2011 has been an effective year for the program. Neighbors realize that keeping our community safe will require a partnership between police and citizens.
Four murder cases were cleared so far this year as a result of direct information received through Crime Stoppers tips:
* The July 25, 2010, murders of Keith Cox and Clayton King who were killed at the Budget Inn located at 4330 Old Interstate Rd. Information detectives received through Crime Stoppers enabled them to file murder charges on Wendell Jude Lamaitre, Damien Anthony Bond and Lauren Elizabeth English. All three suspects were arrested within 24 hours of the murder.
*The March 21, 2011, murders of Luis Aguilar-Amezcua and Omar Mendez Delacruz who were shot and killed traveling in a car on N. Tryon and 24th streets. An anonymous caller forwarded information to Crime Stoppers that resulted in the apprehension of Luis Mendez and Ismael Mendoza. Both suspects were apprehended in Alabama as a result of the anonymous information received through Crime Stoppers.
*The April 16, 2011, murder of Larry Dean Wallace who was shot by and killed by three known associates during a drug transaction. Detectives arrested the suspects within four days of the murder as result of anonymous information they received from a citizen who called Crime Stoppers. Ngai Yarre Sutton, Robert Lee McPhail, and Damon Kenneth Grimes were charged with the murder.
*The April 22, 2011, murder of Robert Latimer Barber who was shot and killed on Mullens Ford Road while walking home from a coffee shop. Although detectives developed information concerning this case early into the investigation, it was a tip forwarded to Crime Stoppers that proved to be critical. The information resulted in the arrest of Chauncey Sterling who was apprehended within 48 hours of the murder.
The CMPD continues to urge citizens to observe and report suspicious activity by calling 911. Additionally anyone with information on unsolved cases they may forward their anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.