Woman Charged with Manslaughter after Hitting Pedestrian

Melissa Wooten

On July 14th at 10:56pm, Rosemarie Lyle was attempting to cross the 3500 block of N. Tryon Street near Guy E. Suddreth Avenue.   Ms. Lyle stepped off of the curb and into the right outbound lane where she was struck by a vehicle driven by Melissa Wooten.

Rosemarie Lyle was transported to CMC-main with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased on July 15th at 12:14am.

Ms. Wooten stopped her vehicle in a nearby parking lot and returned to the scene of the crash. Field sobriety tests indicated Ms. Wooten was impaired and she was placed under arrest and charged with DWI.
 
The CMPD Major Crash Investigation Unit responded to the scene and conducted the investigation.   Any person who witnessed the crash or has information about the case is asked to call Detective Allred at 704-336-8862.  Allred is leading the investigation.

Multi-Vehicle Accident Kills 1; Injures 2 Police Officers & 6 Others

UPDATE: The driver of the 4-Runner was arrested and charged with Misdemeanor Death by Motor Vehicle and No Operators License. The driver has been identified as Delvin Joel Marin Contreras.
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On Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 7:20 a.m., Patrol Officer Jeff Templeton with the Central Division responded to a disabled vehicle, a Chevy Impala, on the outer loop of I-277 approaching Carson Boulevard. The disabled vehicle, occupied by a driver and two passengers, was parked on the left side of the roadway in the breakdown lane, out of the travel lanes.

Officer Templeton exited his vehicle and began to assist the motorist. Moments later, a Toyota Camry crashed into the rear of Officer Templeton’s marked CMPD cruiser; Officer Templeton was outside the vehicle at the time of the crash. The Toyota Camry was occupied by a driver and three passengers.

Westover Division Officer Chris Kunz, who was off duty at the time, was passing by in his personal vehicle and stopped to assist Officer Templeton. Officer Kunz parked his vehicle and began to assist Officer Templeton and the other motorists. Moments later, a Toyota 4-Runner crashed into the right rear of the Toyota Camry which had initially crashed into Officer Templeton’s police cruiser.

As a result of this crash, the driver of the Toyota Camry, who was now standing on the roadway talking to the officers, was struck and killed by the Toyota 4Runner. Officers Templeton and Kunz were also struck during this second collision and were transported to Carolinas Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Officer Kunz’ unoccupied personal vehicle was then struck by a cab driver traveling along I-277 at the conclusion of the first two crashes; there were a total of three crashes during this incident. A total of eight patients were transported to area hospitals for treatment; the two officers, three passengers from the Toyota Camry and three occupants of the Chevy Impala. There were a total of four occupants in the Toyota 4Runner, none of which were transported to a hospital. Officer Templeton has been with the CMPD since December 9, 1992. Officer Kunz has been with the CMPD since September 8, 2008.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Major Crash Investigations Unit is on scene investigating the incident and will release additional information as it becomes available. The deceased driver of the Toyota Camry has been identified as William Alan Sweezer.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Detective Oberer at 704-432-2169. If you would like to help the officers injured in the crash, please contact the April Five Organization.

Detectives Conducting a Hit and Run Investigation in South Division

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department HITS Unit are conducting an investigation into a Hit and Run fatality crash along the 7700 block of Carmel Road, near Timber Hill Court. A 911 call was received at 3:11 a.m., on Wednesday, September 01, 2010, when the caller noticed that a man was lying in the roadway. The victim has has been identified as Jesse Carlton Hawkins, W/M, DOB: 10/24/1987.

South Division officers responded to a call for service in reference to a motorcycle accident along Carmel Road. When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim lying unconscious in the roadway. The victim’s moped was off the roadway in a grassy area near a tree line. Medic pronounced the victim deceased at 3:21 a.m. Based upon information gathered at the scene, detectives with the HITS unit have reason to believe that the victim was involved in a single vehicle crash, in which he lost control of his moped. A short time later, a vehicle ran the victim over and continued on its way without stopping to report the incident.

Detectives do have information that the victim was in the Carmel Road/Johnston Road area shortly after 2:00 a.m. The time line for this crash is approximately between 2:10 a.m. and 3:11 a.m., when it was reported to police. Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance with this case to help identify the suspect vehicle. At this time, we are asking that anyone in the area this morning who believes that they may have been involved in a crash to come forward and speak with detectives. South Division Officers have set up an information checkpoint for people leaving the neighborhood to notify them of the incident and to ask for the public’s assistance if they have any information about the incident. As additional information develops in this case, it will be released by CMPD Public Affairs.

Crime Scene Search responded to the scene collect physical evidence. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Detectives Investigating Domestic Dispute Involving NFL Player Chris Henry

Case Updates: Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit along with the Highway Interdiction and Traffic Safety Unit (H.I.T.S.) have completed their investigation into the death of Mr. Chris Henry.

A toxicology report released by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office showed that former Cincinnati Bengal Chris Henry had no alcohol in his system when he died in December during a dispute with his fiancée.

The H.I.T.S. Accident Reconstruction Unit determined that there was no evidence of reckless driving or excessive speed by Ms. Tonga. The speed limit on Oakdale Road is 35 mph and the estimated speed at the time of accident was between 19-23 mph.

Homicide Detectives interviewed Ms. Tonga who was cooperative throughout the duration of the investigation. Her statement was consistent with witness accounts; however, there were no witnesses that actually saw how Mr. Henry came out of the back of the truck. Homicide Detectives obtained a witness statement that indicated that there was a verbal altercation that took place at the residence where Mr. Henry jumped in the back of the truck and began beating on the back of the vehicle when Ms. Tonga drove away from the residence.

The Medical Examiner ruled the death of Mr. Chris Henry accidental with the cause of death being blunt force trauma to the head from a fall. Ms. Tonga will not be charged in connection with Mr. Henry’s death.

Case Update: December 17th: At 6:36 a.m. this morning, Chris Henry died as a result of his injuries sustained during this incident. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives continue to work diligently on this active investigation.
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Detectives with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit and H.I.T.S. unit are conducting an investigation at 1135 Oakdale Road. The call for service came in just before noon on Wednesday, December 16, 2009.

The victim involved in this case has been identified as NFL player Chris Henry. Chris Henry played with the Cincinnati Bengals as a wide-receiver. Henry had been placed on injured reserve list since Nov. 9th with a dislocated forearm, ending his season early.

North Division officers responded to an assist medic call in reference to a person down in the area of the 1100 block of Oakdale Road. When officers arrived, they found Mr. Henry in the road, apparently suffering life threatening injuries. Medic transported the victim to Carolinas Medical Center-Main where he is receiving treatment for his injuries.

Based on information gathered at the scene, a domestic situation began at 840 Peachtree Road. His fiancé, Loleini Tonga, got into a pickup truck and drove away from the residence. As she was driving away, Mr. Henry jumped into the bed of the truck. The domestic situation continued between the operator and Mr. Henry. At some point while she was driving, Mr. Henry came out of the back of the vehicle.

Detectives with the Homicide Unit and H.I.T.S. Unit are on scene conducting the investigation. Crime Scene Search is on scene as well, photographing the scene and collecting physical evidence.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit. Detective N. McKee is the lead detective assigned to the case. In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

DWI Checkpoint Results

CMPD's HITS Unit conducted a DWI checkpoint on Thursday night that began at 11:00pm and ended at 2:30am. The checkpoint was conducted on North Tryon Street at Dalton Avenue. It netted the following arrests and citations:

• 7 DWI's
• 4 Driving After License Revoked
• 3 Open Containers
• 4 Drug Violations
• 1 Littering Citation
• 1 Warrant
• 20 No Operator’s License
• 66 Other Charges

CMPD Motocross Unit

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have a new weapon to fight crime in Charlotte... Dirt bikes! Today, Photojournalist Jonathan Jones met with Officer J. Green, the officer in charge of the new unit. Thanks to Jonathan for bringing us this information and photos of the new machines.

Officer Green told Jones the unit was started after he was unable to capture a suspect in a chase. Officer Green, of the Eastway Division, remembers telling his supervisor, "I could have caught him if I had a dirt bike!" An avid rider himself, Officer Green was the ideal person to head up the new program.

Green said the motorbikes will be used to target areas with open air drug sales and armed robberies. According to Officer Green, the bikes are a "stealthy" approach and this makes them a great crime fighting tool. He said, "You can pull right behind them and they don't even know your there... they turn around and say your a cop!"

The dirt bikes will be used in Charlotte's urban areas to help police catch suspects who attempt to elude police on foot. The bikes go off-road and anywhere a runner can... in the woods, behind apartments, etc. At this time, the Eastway division is the only division with the Suzuki dirt bikes.

CMPD has two other bike divisions: The Bicycle patrol unit which focuses on the uptown area and the HITS unit, who use BMW motorcycles. The motorcycles will help catch criminals on the street and the dirt bikes will catch them off-road. Police departments across the nation are starting to use dirt bikes to catch criminals. CMPD is the first department to use them in this area. Watch out Criminals!!!

DWI Checkpoint Results

Last night, officers from CMPD’s Metro, Freedom, Central, Westover and HITS divisions along with deputies from the Mecklenburg Co. Sheriffs Office, NC ALE and Mecklenburg ABC agents conducted a DWI Checkpoint on Wilkinson Blvd at Suttle Ave.

The Forensic Tests for Alcohol’s BAT mobile attended the checkpoint to assist with providing breathalyzer tests. This checkpoint was held in conjunction with the "Booze it and Loose It" campaign.

The four hour checkpoint netted the following preliminary results:
Arrests: 19
DWI: 7
Driving While License Revoked: 22
Other Traffic Citations: 28
Warrants Served: 1 US Marshall Fugitive warrant
Drug Arrests: 3 (1 P/W/I/S/D Cocaine)
Stolen Vehicle Recovery: 1

Man killed in Hit & Run

UPDATE: Erika Nicole Derby, 23, is accused of hitting Rodney Floyd, 52, early Thursday morning as he walked along the 9900 block of Newell-Hickory Grove Road. Derby called police Thursday night and said she hit Floyd with a 92 Buick LeSabre and fled the scene, according to investigators.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are looking for a Buick LeSabre that they believe struck and killed a pedestrian in northeast Charlotte. The body of Rodney Eugene Floyd, 52, (R) was found by the side of the road around 6:15 a.m. today on Newell-Hickory Grove Road near Old Concord Road.

It's not clear when Floyd was hit, police said. But they believe the Charlotte man had been walking from Old Concord Road. Officers said there were skid marks left behind on the road from the vehicle who fled the scene.

Police are looking for a 1992 Buick LeSabre with front-end damage. If you have any information on this case please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or the CMPD HITS division at 704-432-2120.

Sources: News 6, The Charlotte Observer

Unlicensed Driver hits child

Here we go again... Another illegal immigrant- without a license- injuring someone on the road. This time it was a child. She did not even stop to see if the child was okay!! I hope they deport her & fast.

A 26-year-old Concord woman was arrested this morning after a child was struck and injured in a hit-and-run bus stop accident. Charges are pending against Martha Patricia Ortiz - Lorenzano of 87 Woodsdale Place, Concord Police Chief Merl Hamilton said. She is not a U.S. citizen, and immigration officials are investigating whether to begin possible deportation processing, he said.

The child, who attends Weddington Hills Elementary School, was taken to NorthEast Medical Center with a leg injury, school officials said. Shortly after 8 a.m., the driver fled in a 1996 green Mazda, after hitting the boy at a bus stop on Kerr Street near Buffalo Avenue. The boy is expected to be okay!

"According to the bus driver, the bus had stopped and was awaiting the student to cross the street and board the bus, with the stop arms and lights activated," Hamilton said. After the driver didn't stop, a woman who had witnessed the accident followed her, then called 911 with her location. The citizen's help was critical in finding the driver, he said. Ortiz Lorenzano was still being questioned this afternoon, and a Spanish-speaking officer was assisting with the case.

Sources: WCNC & The Charlotte Observer