CMPD Seeking KP Express Mart Robbery Suspect

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Robbery Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured in the attached photographs.

The suspect committed the offense at the KP Express Mart located at 2634 Statesville Ave. The suspect used a taser device on the store employee several times during the incident. He was last seen wearing a green ball-cap, green t-shirt, sunglasses, dark colored jeans and dark shoes.

CMPD is asking that anyone who can identify this suspect to please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

VCAT Looking for Man who Used Dogs to Assault CMPD Officers

Jose Daniel Perez

UPDATE:   Jose Daniel Perez was arrested on July 10, 2011.  He has been charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon.
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On July 6, 2011, at 10:45 am,  CMPD Metro Division officers responded to the 3400 block of Statesville Avenue in reference to a male subject who had been assaulted.  Upon their arrival, the victim advised that his step-father, Jose Daniel Perez, became upset and asked to speak to the victim.

Once outside, the Perez’s dog attacked the victim. The victim was transported with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect left the scene before being located by officers a short time later.  While officers began to speak with the Perez, his dog lunged at officers. While attempting to detain Mr. Jose Perez, he unleashed his dog on officers. Officers retreated to safety.


CMPD & VCAT is asking anyone who can assist them in locating this individual to please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

CMPD Investigating Robbery/Murder on Tuckaseegee Rd

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Homicide Detectives and CMPD Robbery Unit Detectives are conducting an investigation into a shooting which occurred at 4709 Tuckaseegee Road. The incident was reported at 9:00 p.m. on July 5, 2011. The victim has been identified as Wuilson Helvan Reyes-Murilla.

Freedom Division officers responded to an Assault with Deadly Weapon with Injury call placed from 4709 Tuckaseegee Road. When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim lying in a small parking lot, adjacent to the business suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

The victim was pronounced deceased on scene by Medic. Based upon initial statements by witnesses, the suspects attempted to rob the business. An altercation ensued and shots were fired. The victim was subsequently shot and succumbed to his injuries. Witnesses have been transported to police headquarters to be interviewed by detectives.

The Helicopter Unit and the K-9 Unit responded to the scene in an attempt to locate the suspects, which are described as two Hispanic males. The two men fled the area on foot. Crime Scene Search responded to collect physical evidence and photograph the scene.

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

CMPD Officer Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision

On Tuesday, July 05, 2011, at 2:12 pm., CMPD Officer Jim Guard with the Freedom Division was involved in a serious motor vehicle crash.  Officer Guard was driving a marked CMPD patrol vehicle and heading south on Steele Creek Road from Brown-Grier Road towards Westinghouse Boulevard.

The second vehicle, a Jeep Liberty SUV, was heading north on Steele Creek Road at the time of the collision.  Based upon the witness statement of a driver traveling directly behind Officer Guard, the driver of the Jeep Liberty crossed over the double yellow line and collided head-on with Officer Guard’s vehicle. This stretch of road is one lane in each direction, divided by a double yellow line.

Witnesses traveling along Steele Creek Road called 911 to report the incident and remained on scene to be interviewed by the CMPD Major Crash Investigations Unit.  Both Officer Guard and the driver (sole occupant) of the Jeep were seriously injured during the collision.  The driver of the Jeep was transported via ambulance to Carolinas Medical Center.

Due to the severity of his Officer Guard's injuries and the length of time it took to extricate him from his patrol car, he was transported to CMC via helicopter.  Officer Guard is a 22-year veteran of CMPD with a hire date of August 2, 1989.

Crime Scene Search responded to collect physical evidence and photograph the scene.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-336-8862 and speak with the lead Detective Sammis.  In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

If anyone would like to donate to Officer J.D. Guard, please send your check to:
April Five Organization
10612-D Providence Road, PMB 745
Charlotte, NC 28277
* 100% of donations will go to Officer Guard and all donations are tax deductible.

The Charlotte Observer: "Recording Police can Create Clashes"

On the front page of the Sunday Edition of The Charlotte Observer, you will find an article about my recent experience with a CMPD Officer.

In the article, Charlotte Observer writer Jim Morrill provides  some details of what happened to me on June 23rd as well addressing the problem of friction between Law Enforcement Officers and photographers across the country.

*** An important bit of information that wasn't mentioned in the article is a 'hat tip' to Cedar Posts for all the legal research and documentation he gathered and published about my  incident.  Cedar is a fellow Charlotte blogger who pens the Cedar Posts and Barbwire Fences Blog.  Please check it out! 

~ Correction to Article:  I believe I was approx. 20-30 ft. from the Officers.


Article Photo Credit: Todd Sumlin

CMPD Reports Safe & Successful July 4th Celebration Uptown

UPDATE:  CMPD is reporting a safe and successful holiday celebration in uptown Charlotte with no significant events in any of the twelve surrounding CMPD divisions.  A total of 11 juvenile curfew violations were recorded in the center city.  Four adults were arrested on the following charges: Trespassing, Drug Arrest, Illegal display of fireworks and Disorderly Conduct.

Happy 4th of July!  

Please be SAFE!

As a reminder, the July 4th uptown crowd has been a challenge for CMPD in the past few years: - July 4, 2006    - July 4, 2007   - July 4, 2008   - July 4, 2009     - July 4, 2010

REMINDER: Charlotte has a youth curfew! Any person under 16 yrs is restricted from any place generally 'open to and used by' the public, including; but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, highways, alleys, public vehicular areas, parking lots, etc.   

Restricted Hours: Sunday -Thursday: 11:00 pm - 6:00 am ~ Friday & Saturday- 12:01 am- 6:00 am

Detectives Investigating Homicide on Patio Court

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Homicide Unit are conducting an investigation into a shooting that occurred in the 2000 block of Patio Court which left one man dead. The call for service was reported at 7:19 am this morning.  The victim has been identified as Timothy Staten.

CMPD Eastway Division officers responded to 3325 Erskine Drive to investigate the report of an unresponsive male collapsed on the front porch.  When officers arrived on scene, they found a male subject suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.  Mr. Staten was pronounced deceased on scene.

Officers immediately notified Homicide Detectives and secured the crime scene.  Based upon initial witness statements, Mr. Staten was involved in a physical altercation with another male subject in the parking lot area of the nearby Creekside Retreat Apartments.  After the physical altercation ended, a witness heard at least one gunshot and saw Mr. Staten running away from the apartment complex towards Erskine Drive.

CMPD Homicide Unit Detectives are currently canvassing the apartment complex and surrounding neighborhood to identify any possible witnesses. As additional information develops in this case, I will update this post.  Crime Scene Search responded to the call for service to process the scene and collect physical evidence.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective.   Detective Burkard is the lead detective assigned to the case. In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.  This is Charlotte's 19th homicide in 2011.

CMPD Officers of the Month * July 2011

Officer Jonathan Gompers

Providence Division Officer Jonathan Gompers was called to assist the Eastway Division in the early morning hours of June 12, 2011, with a fight in progress call on Independence Boulevard at the Charlotte Inn.

Officer Gompers was the first to arrive and observed a chaotic scene, with several people motioning to him and yelling regarding the fight near the median.  Officer Gompers drew his attention to the fight, and observed a male subject stand up and walk away from another male who was left motionless on the ground. The witnesses advised Officer Gompers that the suspect had a knife and used it against the victim. Officer Gompers, without regard for his own safety, gave chase on foot to the male suspect while calling for MEDIC and other officers to assist the victim.

The suspect ran in and out of traffic along Independence which further created a dangerous situation. As Officer Gompers closed the distance with the suspect, he began to give clear verbal commands to the suspect to stop and to get on the ground. With his weapon drawn, Officer Gompers observed the suspect turn and drop his knife. Officer Gompers then directed another arriving officer to check the victim. Officer Gompers observed a large bleeding cut on the suspect’s wrist and kept him covered at gunpoint until additional officers arrived. The suspect was then handcuffed and taken into custody.

Officer Gompers’ actions are commendable due to his quick thinking and selfless call to action to pursue an armed suspect and to bring him into custody. Officer Gompers exemplifies courage under pressure and is one of CMPD’s Officers of the Month for July 2011.
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In April, Eastway Division Officer Peter Carbonaro was aware the Eastway Division had received numerous complaints from residents of the Clearmont Avenue/Girard Court community in reference to drug activity related to a subject named Matthew Patterson.  Mr. Patterson was no stranger to the officers of the Eastway Division as he had been involved in an aggravated assault with firearm, a robbery and had also attempted to hit a Sgt. with a vehicle when he was an officer in Eastway Division.

The division had information that the suspect was connected to several robberies in the area as well.  Officer Peter Carbonaro of the Eastway Division Focus Mission Team volunteered to take the lead on an investigation of this subject. He along with other FMT members conducted surveillance on this individual.

On June 3rd, Officer Carbonaro was able to develop probable cause for a search warrant on Patterson and his residence. The execution of the search warrant resulted in the confiscation of 10.8 grams of crack cocaine and a Glock .45 caliber pistol. Patterson is a convicted felon and was charged for possession of the firearm, P/W/I/S/D-Cocaine, Maintaining a Dwelling and PDP.

This investigation is just one of the many examples of the fantastic work that Officer Carbonaro and the FMT do within the Eastway Division. Most of their investigations are extremely time consuming and require a great deal of expertise. Officer Carbonaro should be recognized for his ability to take the lead on an investigation and see it through to a felony arrest.

Christopher Guy Sentenced to 55 years in Prison for Child Sex Offenses

Christopher Guy

Christopher Guy, 39, was convicted by a jury on June 30, 2011 of three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, two counts of attempted first-degree sex offense and one count of first-degree sex offense.

Christopher Guy, who called himself the "Anti-Christ," was convicted as the result of the testimony of two very brave children who spoke out about what the defendant did to them.  The Mecklenburg County D.A.'s Office stated they "admire the courage of these two girls (aged 8 & 9) that made the prosecution of this dangerous criminal possible."

A jury of twelve citizens dedicated four days of their lives to the consideration of the evidence.  Guy represented himself at trial.  Upon the return of the guilty verdicts, The Honorable Jesse B. Caldwell, III, sentenced Guy to a total of 666-827 months (approximately 55-68 years) in prison.

Man Shot & Killed off Albemarle Rd; Four Men Arrested

UPDATE:   CMPD Homicide Unit Detectives have arrested four suspects in the murder of Singbay Mulbah.  All four suspects have been charged with Murder,  Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery.
 
The four suspects have been identified as:  Kevin DeWayne King, Brandon Gregory King, (brother of Kevin King), Ramses Arthur Malloy Ratcliff and Therome Willie Poe

Mr. Mulbah went to 5400 Pin Oak Circle to sell a large quantity of drugs to the suspects, who intended to rob him of his drugs and money.   As the suspects attempted to rob Mr. Mulbah, he ran from the scene.   The suspects shot at Mr. Mulbah numerous times, striking him once in the femoral artery.  Mr. Mulbah was taken to the hospital by his brother and died shortly after arrival.

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Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit and ADW Unit are conducting an investigation into a shooting in which the victim was dropped off by friends at Carolinas Medical Center-University.  The medical staff at CMC called 911 to report the incident at 9:35 pm, on Tuesday, June 28, 2011. The victim has been positively identified as Singbay Mulbah.

University City Division officers responded to CMC-University at 8800 North Tryon Street to investigate the report of a shooting victim having been dropped off.  After the victim was dropped off by his friends, they left CMC in a black Cadillac sedan. The victim was rushed into the emergency room but succumbed to a gunshot wound at 9:49 pm and was pronounced deceased.

Detectives with the CMPD Homicide Unit are currently in the midst of determining where the shooting took place. They are also trying to locate the black Cadillac.   Initial indications are that the shooting took place at a location off Albemarle Road in the Hickory Grove Division.  As additional information develops in this case, I will update this post.

Crime Scene Search responded to CMC-University to process the scene and collect evidence.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective. Detective Jolly is the lead detective assigned to the case. In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Mint Hill PD Seeking Larceny Suspects

On Friday June 17, 2011 at 9:44 AM, Mint Hill Police Officers responded to the Walgreen's located at 9209 Lawyers Road for a report of a Larceny of the business. The two suspects in the incident were described as (1) Black male approximately 5-09”, 250 lbs. short hair style, wearing a red in color short sleeve shirt with button up front and a white in color t-shirt underneath, tan in color long style shorts and white in color tennis shoes.

Suspect (2) was described as a Black female approximately 5-06” – 5-08”, approximately 180-200 lbs, with a short style multi-colored hair style, containing blond and light brown in color streaks or highlights, wearing a purple and white in color striped dress. The two above listed suspects entered the business, whereupon the male suspect proceeded behind the counter and stole tobacco products totaling $500.00. Both suspects fled the store on foot and fled the parking lot area in a red in color unknown make, 4-door vehicle with a chrome style running board.

Any person having information regarding the incident may contact Detective Mickovic with the Mint Hill Police Department Criminal Investigation Division anonymously at (704) 545-1085.

CMPD Officer Threatens Arrest on CinC for Attempting to Photographing an Arrest

After a second terrible experience with CMPD in the past month, I have decided it is time to take a break from blogging as well as supporting the CMPD!

If you are curious about what happened, please feel free to read some of the story on how a CMPD Officer treated me at Cedar Posts' blog...

FBI Seeks Public Assistance in Identifying Suspicious Man

The Charlotte Division of the FBI and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) are asking the public to help identify a man who was in a restricted area along the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) LYNX Blue Line in April. He was observed acting in a suspicious manner on a surveillance camera and the incident was reported to the FBI. FBI Agents and Task Force Officers are now asking if anyone may know this individual.

“The safety and security procedures that we have established along the light rail line assisted in detecting the individual in an area that is off limits to the public. We immediately notified our partners at the FBI and CMPD,” said Bryan Leaird, CATS’ General Manager of Safety and Security. “The combined efforts of CATS and our local and federal law enforcement agencies help keep the transit system safe for our customers, which is our top priority.”

If you know the identity of this man, call 704-377-9200

“We do not want to create a sense of alarm releasing these surveillance photos. Our job as law enforcement is to track down suspicious activity. Recent events have created an atmosphere of heightened awareness, and that type of vigilance is a good thing,” said Chris Briese, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Division. “We hope someone in the community has information that can help us.”

Anyone who has information that may help the FBI identify the man pictured in the surveillance image is asked to call the FBI Charlotte Division at 704-377-9200 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.