While patrolling the 1600 block of Red Coat Drive on Friday April 9, 2010 at 10:10 p.m., Stonehaven Community Patrol (SCP) Officer Brian Lutes discovered a gold Honda SUV with the driver side front door hanging open in the driveway of a residence.
Upon investigating the circumstances, Lutes observed that the vehicle was “packed” with what appeared to be flea market type items and that several of the items were on the ground below the SUV’s drivers door and appeared to have been dropped. In addition, Lutes observed that there was a checkbook and a woman’s wallet type pocketbook on the driver’s side front floor of the SUV.
Lutes observed that there were no lights on in the residence and that the storm doors at the front and side entrances of the residence were both hanging open. Lutes also discovered that the entrance to the crawl space under the house was hanging open as well.
After checking the outside areas of the property including the backyard and outbuildings for obvious evidence of criminal activity and, finding none, Lutes made contact with a neighbor of the residence who reported that a 70 year old woman lives alone in the home and that the Honda SUV in the driveway was hers. The neighbor also reported that they felt the woman, whom they have known their whole life, was beginning to fade mentally.
After speaking with the neighbor and realizing that there was a fair chance that the woman may be ill or injured in some way, Lutes contacted the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept (CMPD). to ask for their assistance with the situation and to possibly make entry into the home to check on the woman’s well being.
Two CMPD officers arrived at the residence at 10:35 p.m. and attempted to make contact with the woman via telephone and knocking on the doors of the residence, but were unable to do so.
Due to the Officer’s concerns about the woman’s welfare, a CMPD Supervisor arrived at the residence at 11:08 p.m. and was apprised of the situation. The Supervisor and one of the Officers entered the residence through an unlocked door in an effort to learn if the woman was at home, and if she was, if she was ill or injured.
The Officers found the woman asleep in her bedroom; she was not ill or injured in any way. Apparently, she was unloading items from her car into the house when she got distracted and simply forgot about the car being left open.
The home and the vehicle were secured.
The SCP thanks the CMPD for their swift response and action in response to their request for assistance.
