Athletic Trainer at CMS High School Arrested for Sexual Activity With Student

Mindy Ilg

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested 29 year-old Mindy Ilg on August 31 after she reportedly had sex with a student of Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system

Ilg is an athletic trainer for Vance High School, but no information is currently available regarding the student involved. Ilg faces charges of felony sexual activity with a student by school personnel.

She is currently under paid administrative leave until the case's outcome is determines. Ilg was jailed in Mecklenburg County but was later released under a $10,000 bond.

Two Charged after Detonating Explosives at Vance High School

McNair

At least three students were treated for smoke inhalation and burns yesterday morning after Nassi Daundre El-Bey, 17, and Damias McNair, 19, set off smoke bombs and other fireworks throughout the Vance High School campus, according to CMPD. 

The incident happened at approx 9:30 am at the school, which is located at 7600 IBM Drive in the University City area of Charlotte.

El Bey

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and the Charlotte Fire Department crews responded.  Vance High School was evacuated due to smoke around 10 a.m. after police said the two teens set off fireworks both inside and outside the school.

El-Bey and McNair were each charged with possession of fireworks and possession of a weapon on school grounds.  El-Bey was also charged with damage to real property.

16-Year Old Busted with Loaded Gun on CMS High School Campus

Mark Ellis

Mark Obrian Ellis, 16, was arrested yesterday after CMS' school officials said he brought a loaded gun to West Charlotte High School.

Mark Ellis is not a student at West Charlotte HS but a student of the CMS Right Choices Program, which is a 6-week alternative program for students who have violated the CMS Code of Student Conduct.

Ellis was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, possession of a handgun-minor, possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon (gun), resisting a police officer and trespassing.  His prior record includes common law robbery and disorderly conduct.

12-Year Old Found with Loaded Gun at CMS School

CMS officials are reporting that they discovered a 12-year old seventh grade student brought a loaded gun to CMS' Community House Middle School, located in Ballantyne area of Charlotte.

CMS Officials said the loaded gun was discovered about 1:30pm on Tuesday. It was found after classmates alerted a teacher about seeing a student with the weapon. That student was questioned who said it was another student was who had the loaded gun. Administrators questioned the second student and later found the gun.

Once the gun was found, authorities were notified immediately and Principal Jamie Brooks sent out a Connect Ed message to all parents.  The 12-year-old was taken off campus in a patrol car.

Four Masked Men Stop CMS School Bus on Dalecrest Drive

UPDATE II:  A juvenile was arrested in regards to the CMS bus incident.

UPDATE: Police are seeking a man who goes by the street name "bam-bam" - who is one of the three men responsible for causing havoc with CMS' Bus #112 driver.

At 4:40 pm, four people with red bandannas over their faces, jumped out of a white Chevy Yukon SUV and beat on the hood of bus #112 from CMS' James Martin Middle School. The incident occurred in the 2700 block of Dalecrest Drive, according to CMPD.

One of the suspects smashed a window on the bus during the incident and a second man attempted to force his way on the school bus to get to the 23-year-old bus driver.  The bus driver was able to maneuver around the SUV and drive off without further incident.

Two Students Charged with Felony False Bomb Threats

Dorothy Moore

CMPD & Matthews Police have arrested Dorothy Nicole Moore, 17 and Jihad Donovan Glover, 18, in connection with the recent bomb threats at Butler High School, located in Matthews, NC.

Jihad Glover

Both are students at CMS' Butler High School and now each face three felony counts of making a false bomb report.

The bomb threats were called in from pay phones on three separate occasions between February 24th and March 7th.

The arrests are a result of a joint investigation by Matthews Police Department and the CMPD.

Student Brings Gun to Hidden Valley Elementary School

According to several news sources,  a 5th grade CMS student brought an unloaded gun to Hidden Valley Elementary school yesterday. 

The report states the 5th grader spilled bullets on the bus at a separate time and a fellow first grade student found one of the bullets and brought it home to their Mother, who contacted the school.

Mint Hill Police Arrest High School Student with Weapons & Drugs

James Denton

James Denton, 17, is charged with two counts of bringing a weapon to school and one count of possession of marijuana after Mint Hill Officers found a knife, gun and marijuana in his vehicle on school property.

The incident occurred Tuesday morning around 8:15am in the CMS' Rocky River High School parking lot after police received an anonymous tip.

During the search of Denton's vehicle, Officers found over 17 grams of marijuana, a pellet gun (resembled a .45 caliber handgun) and a 12-inch Bowie knife.

Middle School Student Caught with Gun on Bus

If you were shocked to hear about the incident yesterday involving a 7th grade CMS student bringing a loaded gun on the bus... it happened again this morning! 

CMPD says they were called to Jay M. Robinson Middle School after a 15-year old male student was caught  with an unloaded gun on campus.  CMS stated the student had a quarrel with a classmate yesterday and brought the weapon to school to 'scare' him.  

A fellow student saw the boy with the gun on the bus ride to school and told a Principal, who informed the School Resource Officer.  A .38 caliber gun was found inside a book bag in the student's locker.  

Seventh Grader Attempts to Hijack CMS Bus

A seventh grade CMS' Northeast Middle School student was exiting bus #1341 shortly before  5pm at his bus stop, located at Reedy Creek Road & Harrisburg Road.  when he handed two guns to the bus driver.  CMPD said the guns were real and one was loaded.  

According to CMPD, Officers learned that a student approached the bus driver at the student’s bus stop displaying a handgun and demanded the driver to drive him to another destination.  The bus driver talked the suspect into giving him the handgun.  The suspect gave the driver the handgun and exited the school bus. 

After the suspect exited the bus, another student approached the driver and informed him that the suspect had given him a handgun and had asked him to assist him with the incident.  The student, who was fearful, took the weapon from the suspect but did not assist him. There were seven students, the bus driver, and the suspect on the bus when the incident occurred.

Officers and detectives located the suspect and arrested him.  Detectives charged the suspect with 8 counts of kidnapping and 2 counts of possession of a weapon on school ground.  The suspect will be transported to the regional juvenile detention center.

CMS' contacted parents of children on the bus and they were allowed to come to the scene to pick-up their children.  If you have any information about this incident, please contact Crime Stoppers @ 704-334-1600.

Fight at Vance High School Ends in Three Teen Arrests

Early this morning, CMPD Officers were dispatched to CMS' Zebulon B. Vance High School after a fight occurred amongst several teens in the school cafeteria. Vance High School is located in the 7600 block of IBM Road which is off West WT Harris Boulevard.

Police have charged three teens in connection with the fight. Donovan Meeks, 17, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting an officer. DaQuan Davidson, 19, was charged with disorderly conduct. Daunte Conner, 17, was charged with damage to property (for breaking a window in the cafeteria) and disorderly conduct.

A CMS' Spokeswoman said the CMPD Officers & CMS School Resource Officers were able to quickly control the situation and there were no injures as a result of the fight.

* Check out the The Meck Deck's blog post on the topic..

Four Arrested after Fight at East Meck High School Basketball Game

On Friday night, a fight occurred at East Mecklenburg High School during the boys' basketball game against Butler High School. According to police, a player on the girls' basketball team, who had already finished playing, was told to go sit on the other side of the gym.

Her father, Ernest Owens, initially got into a verbal altercation with the school resource officer which then erupted into a physical confrontation with several officers. The father was later arrested and is now facing multiple charges.

In addition to the father, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers arrested Dyshay AliyattKilpatrick , 16, Tonja Lejun Kilpatrick, 38 and are attempting to serve warrants on Richard Michael Leu, 32, for their involvement in the fight.

* Watch Video of Fight on YouTube & here & here

Mother & Son Charged for Exploding Pen at Turning Point Academy

UPDATE II: Tracy Bauguess surrendered to the Mecklenburg County Sherriff’s Office on outstanding warrants. Detectives from the Arson Task Force continue to investigate this case aggressively and are continuing to follow-up on information.

Since this investigation is still in its early stages, more charges are possible in the future.

Anyone with information regarding the case at Turning Point Academy or with information about the possible criminal activities of the Bauguess family is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704 334-1600.

UPDATE: The CMPD Bomb Squad along with Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ATF completed “render safe” procedures at 10622 Mt. Holly Road. Members of the Arson Task Force and CFD Hazmat are currently processing the scene for evidence and are awaiting arrival of EPA experts for evaluation of final clean-up procedures.

Based on the investigation of the Arson Task Force, triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is the highly explosive suspected in the detonation at Turning Point School on Monday. This explosive is extremely potent and unstable. During initial testing of a minute sample of the material, a spontaneous detonation injured three members of the CFD HazMat response team which was assisting the CMPD Bomb Squad and Arson Task Force. All three members were treated and released for injuries which could have been more devastating.

A significant quantity of this suspected explosive and precursor materials was located inside the residence. The quantity located was capable of extreme damage and loss of life within the community. Yesterday evening and continuing today, render safe procedures were executed by the bomb squad within the residence.

As the investigation progressed, evidence collected resulted in warrants being obtained on Tracy Bauguess, the mother of Jesse Bauguess. She has been charged with 3 counts of malicious injury by use of an explosive device and one count of possession of a weapon of mass destruction; she has not yet been taken into custody. Ms. Bauguess drives a purple Honda Civic, NC Tag XRJ-2678. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Ms. Bauguess is asked to call 911 immediately to have a patrol officer dispatched to their location.

This investigation is still in its early stages. More charges are possible as police move forward.
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Law enforcement officers went to the suspected teens' home on Mt. Holly Road Monday afternoon. About 30 nearby residents and a business were evacuated while police searched the teens' home for explosives or bomb-making materials. During their investigation, police questioned 16-year old Jessie Bauguess and his 15-year-old brother. Police are not releasing the younger brother's name since he is a minor.

During their search, three firefighters suffered minor injuries when a product they were testing exploded. Jessie Bauguess was charged on Monday with five felony counts: malicious use of explosive damage to property, malicious use of explosives injury, arson/unlawful burning resulting in serious injury to firefighter (3 counts). He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of weapon on school grounds. Bauguess is being held at the Mecklenburg County jail under a $500,000 bond.

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Bomb Squad was dispatched to 2300 West Sugar Creek Road at CMS' Turning Point Academy, in reference to a suspicious explosive device. The incident took place at 9:16 a.m. on October 18, 2010 in the University City Division.

A student was injured by a small explosive device (pen) on the school property. The student was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries which were determined to be non-life threatening. The remaining students and staff were evacuated to a safe location and are providing information and statements that may be helpful during the course of the investigation.

Turning Point Academy is an alternative school within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District for students who have experienced disciplinary problems at other CMS schools.

Charlotte Fire Department, the HAZMAT team, the Arson Task Force, the Bomb Squad, Canine Units, Medic, Charlotte Mecklenburg School’s Police Department, state and federal agencies are all on scene assisting with the continued investigation.

CMS High School Teacher Arrested for Peeping

A CMS' South Mecklenburg High School teacher is accused of taking cell phone pictures of up a woman and her daughter's at a south Charlotte Harris Teeter store.

Police charged English teacher, Steven Skinner, with two counts of felony peeping using a photographic device.

According to CMS, Skinner is a 1977 Duke Graduate and a soccer player. He has 24 years of teaching experience is has worked for six years at South Mecklenburg High School.

Gun Discharged in CMS 3rd Grade Class Room

CMPD Youth Crimes/Domestic Violence Unit Detectives are conducting an investigation regarding a juvenile student that discharged a firearm in a classroom at University Meadows Elementary School, located at 1600 Pavilion Blvd.

A teacher and other students were in the classroom when the incident occurred at 1:09 p.m. There were no injuries as a result of the incident.

The 8-year old juvenile was charged with Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds and was transported to the Gaston Regional Juvenile Detention Center. Detectives are still investigating to determine where and how the juvenile gained possession of the firearm. Crime Scene Search responded to the scene to photograph it and collect physical evidence.

Detectives with Youth Crimes/Domestic Violence along with Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) Law Enforcement were all on scene to assist with this on-going investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Detective T. Johnson is the lead detective assigned to the case.

Summons Obtained in Case Involving a Former CMS Principal

On Monday, March 29, 2010, Special Victims Division Detective T.R. Johnson obtained a Criminal Summons on former Vance High School Principal Philip Cauthen.

On October 12, 2009, the victim, a student at Vance High School, reported that he and Mr. Cauthen engaged in a verbal altercation in the school’s main office. The victim reported that he was told to enter Mr. Cauthen’s office, at which time the victim advised he was physically assaulted by Mr. Cauthen. The victim was a 16 year old student at Vance High School at the time of the incident. His name is being withheld due to privacy concerns.

This case was initially investigated by School Resource Officer M. A. Cuthbertson, and through his investigation, he was unable to determine if a physical assault had occurred. CMS Law Enforcement began an internal investigation, and determined this case to be a personnel matter. Det. Johnson was assigned this case on January 20, 2010. Through his investigation, which included interviewing the victim and several witnesses, he was able to obtain Criminal Summons earlier today.

Former CMS Teacher Arrested for Sexual Activity with a Student

Case Update: On Thursday, March 25, 2010, Special Victims Division Detective David Turner obtained an additional warrant on Brett Haight for Taking Incident Liberties with a Student.

The victim was a 16-year old student at Olympic High School when the crime occurred; her name is being withheld due to privacy concerns. Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Deputies served the warrant on Mr. Haight this afternoon. Mr. Haight is currently in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.
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Brett Haight was arrested at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Friday, February 05, 2010, and charged with Sexual Activity with a Student. Detective David Turner with the Special Victim’s Division, Youth Crime and Domestic Violence is the lead investigator. Mr. Haight is a former teacher at Olympic High School and resigned on January 6, 2010. The victim in this case is 17 year old female student at Olympic High School; her name is being withheld due to privacy concerns.

Detective Turner was first made aware of alleged misconduct between Mr. Haight and the victim on December 1, 2009, and has been aggressively investigating this case since then. Detective Turner worked closely with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Law Enforcement during the course of the investigation. As a result of the investigation, it has been determined that the sexual activity occurred at the home of the suspect; additional inappropriate conduct occurred on school grounds. Detective Turner is continuing to investigate whether or not additional students may have been victimized.

Crime on the Rise in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

The state just released the crime figures from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district reported 1,298 criminal acts happening on campuses last school year. This number is up by about 15% from the previous school year.

There was a jump in assaults on school personnel and students bringing weapons to school. While crime was rising on CMS campuses, students bringing a firearm to school dramatically decreased. CMS reports four times students brought a gun to school. The number was 17 last year.

West Mecklenburg High School had the highest number of criminal activity last year. It reported 108 acts of crime from students. The activity consists of bringing drugs on campus to assaulting school staff.

Student Kills Former Teacher; Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison

Ashanti Bess

UPDATE: (5/4/11) Ashanti Bratlon Bess plead guilty to murdering his former teacher, Anthony Davis.  Davis was found dead in his southwest Charlotte home on Feb. 9, 2010.  Bess pleaded guilty to second degree murder and armed robbery and was sentenced to 21-26 years in prison.   Davis' family approved of the plea agreement, according to court officials.

Bess, 23, claimed that he was in the same house on Lady Liberty Lane as Davis the night of the murder and they were instant messaging each other.  During the text exchange, Davis asked Bess to give him a frontal massage and offered him money for sex.  Investigators never found evidence of instant messaging.  
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On February 9, 2010, CMPD Officers were called by Anthony Davis' family to check his welfare after he had not shown up for work at Randolph I.B. Middle School on Feb. 8th & 9th.  Officers located Davis shot to death in his apartment on Lady Liberty Ln.  Davis' 2007 Ford Edge was also missing from his driveway when he was found.

The next day, CMPD Homicide Detectives arrested 22-year old Ashanti Bess for the murder and robbery of his former teacher, Mr. Davis.  Police say Bess met Davis 10 years ago when Davis was a teacher at Sedgefield Middle School and Bess was a student. Bess was also involved in the 'Right Moves for Youth' program which encourages teens to stay in school. Bess dropped out of that program while Davis continued to volunteer for Right Moves for Youth.

Police say Bess waited for Anthony Davis to go to bed and then shot and robbed him. CMS says Anthony Davis was hired to teach at Randolph Middle School in 2004 and had been employed with the school district in various teaching positions since December of 1998. The next day, police officers found Davis' vehicle off Back Creek Church Road and they towed it to police headquarters for processing.  In addition, Officers recovered items Bess stole from Davis' home on the night of the murder.

CMS Teacher Arrested for First Degree Rape

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Special Victims Division arrested John Patrick Bush and charged him with First Degree Rape- Victim Under 13.

The incident took place on September 1, 2009, at Smith Academy of International Languages, which is located at 1600 Tyvola Road . Mr. Bush is employed with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as a teacher, and the victim is a CMS student.

The investigation was initiated after the victim informed her parents about the crime. The victim was referred to Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center .