CMPD Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department – Crime Prevention Unit

601 East Trade Street  Charlotte, NC 28202For more information, visit www.cmpd.org or call us at 704.336.2310

  Before children start out on their “trick or treat” rounds, parents should:

• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
• Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children’s companions. Set a time limit.
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.
• Feed the kids before they go so they will be less likely to eat the treats before they get home. Warn them not to eat anything before you inspect it.
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
• Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name; address and phone number inside a pocket in case the child gets separated from the group.
• Welcome trick-or-treaters with your porch lights and any exterior lights on.
• Patrol your street occasionally to discourage speeding motorists, acts of malicious mischief and crimes against children.
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police department immediately; you can dial 9-1-1.
• Candlelit jack-o-lanterns should be kept clear of doorsteps and landings.
• Consider using flashlights instead of candles to light jack-o-lanterns.
• Keep pets away from doors so children will not become frightened.

CMPD Halloween Safety Tips for Kids

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department – Crime Prevention Unit

601 East Trade Street  Charlotte, NC 28202For more information, visit www.cmpd.org or call us at 704.336.2310

 

To get the most out of Trick or Treating, be safe and use Good Common Sense. Listed below are some general safety tips.

Be sure your parents know where you are going.

Go with a group or 3 or more people.

If you feel unsafe, take along an adult.

Do NOT ride a bicycle. Your costume could get hung up in it.

Carry a Flash Light.

Walk on a sidewalk.

If a sidewalk is not available, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.

Cross busy streets at an intersection or cross walk.

Be sure to look both ways (2 times) before crossing the street.

Walk, don’t run.

Take off your mask while walking from house to house.

It is a good idea to wear clothing with reflective tape.

If you wear a mask, be sure you can see out of it clearly.

Be very cautious of STRANGERS.

Only stop by houses that have their front porch light on.

Accept treats only in the doorway. NEVER go into the house.

Let your parents check your treats before you eat them.

NEVER eat unwrapped candy, opened candy or fruit given to you on Halloween.

 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Announce Arrest for Indecent Exposure

From www.crimeincharlotte.com

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Youth and Family Services Detectives have arrested Raul Gabriel (DOB-07/27/68) on felony indecent exposure charges. On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m. there were two reported incidents involving a similar suspect and suspect vehicle in the Mountainbrook Community off of Sharon View Road.

In both incidents, high school aged girls reported that a man pulled up to them in a white minivan and asked a question. While the girls answered the question, the suspect exposed himself to them. The victims were able to walk away without further contact with the suspect.

 Warrants were obtained on Mr. Gabriel and he was arrested October 27, 2009 at Police Headquarters without incident.

The CMPD would like to thank the community for their cooperation in to help bring these cases to a resolution.

Anyone with additional information regarding these cases can call Youth and Family Services Detective Donald Simmons at 704-336-2781.

Rob Tufano

CMPD Public Affairs Coordinator

SCP Responds to Report of Suspicous Vehicles

  Stonehaven Community Patrol members responded to a Stonehaven resident’s report of a suspicious vehicles in the 6000 block of Gate Post Rd. at 3:13 a.m. on Saturday October 25, 2009.

 The Stonehaven resident reported that a dark-colored pick-up truck, with its engine running, was sitting outside 6001 Gate Post Rd., facing Rama Rd., for several minutes when a small silver car pulled up behind the pick-up.

 SCP members, patrolling in a marked patrol vehicle, responded to Gate Post Rd. from the direction of the Sardis Rd. / Rama Rd. intersection observing the reported vehicles on Gate Post Rd.

 SCP members approached the suspicious vehicles from the rear, coming from the area of the intersection of Rocky Falls / Gate Post, and observed that the reported suspicious vehicles quickly left the area as the marked SCP vehicle approached them.

 The reported suspicious vehicles were a blue 1980’s model Ford F-150 regular cab pick-up truck with a chrome truck bed tool box just behind the cab. The vehicle displayed NC license plate # RMH-8866 and left the area turning left on to Rama Rd. toward Sardis Rd.

 The other reported suspicious vehicle was a silver 2 door Dodge Neon driven by a white female estimated to be in her 20’s. This vehicle, on approach of the SCP vehicle, quickly turned around on Gate Post and fled the area toward Rocky Falls Rd.

 SCP members followed the pick-up on to Sardis Rd. toward South Park to confirm the license plate number, but having not observed any criminal activity the vehicle could not be stopped.

 SCP members returned to the Gate Post Rd. area and searched for the Dodge Neon, but could not locate it.

 The license plate number of the pick-up truck has been forwarded to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept. and SCP members ask that anyone observing the vehicles described above make note of any observed characteristics of the occupants.

SCP Finds Open Window at Rama Rd. Elementary

 Stonehaven Community Patrol members discovered a  classroom window open at the Rama Rd. Elementary School while conducting a Patrol Check of the school grounds at 3:55 a.m. on Saturday October 25, 2009.

 The open crank-out style classroom window was fully opened and did not hold a screen of any kind. The window was located in the brick portion of the school building adjacent to the parking lot that is directly across the street from Jester Lane in Stonehaven.

 SCP members contacted the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept. and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Law Enforcement Officers who responded to the scene, entered the building to check for intruders, and, finding none, secured the school.

 The incident marks the 3rd consecutive weekend that SCP members have discovered open doors or windows at the school.

Fugitive arrested after child seeks help

By Sadia Latifi
sadia.latifi@newsobserver.com

Posted: Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

Man with outstanding arrest warrants from Charlotte now accused of taking boy, mother.

DURHAM  – A fugitive from Charlotte police was arrested Saturday night after a child ran into a gas station to ask for help, saying he had been kidnapped.

Samuel Moses McCrae III, 21, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count each of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, carrying a concealed weapon, felony possession of a controlled substance and resisting a public officer, according to arrest warrants. Some charges come from outstanding warrants in Charlotte, Durham police said.

McCrae was arrested at a BP station just before 8 p.m. Saturday. Police said a child had approached a customer and said he and his mother were kidnapped in Charlotte, and that the man holding them hostage was in a car in the parking lot.

The customer called police, and McCrae was arrested at the scene.

Charlotte police may levy additional charges, including kidnapping, according to Durham police. If charged with kidnapping, McCrae would be transferred to the Mecklenburg County Jail, police said.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police official said Sunday night said they were not aware of the arrest, but would investigate further.

McCrae was released on parole from Durham County Jail in July after an almost two-year term for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and several drug offenses. The outstanding Charlotte warrants were issued after his release, police said.

McCrae was held in the Durham jail over the weekend under a $550,000 secured bond. He faces a judge this morning.

SCP Will Have Patrol Vehicle for 5th Straight Week

Thanks to a very generous donation from Mrs. Allegray White of Pleasant Drive, the Stonehaven Community Patrol will be able to obtain the use of a vehicle for community patrol purposes for the 5th consecutive week.

 Mrs. White’s donation is the largest we have received and we can’t thank her enough for having confidence in us and for supporting our efforts to keep Stonehaven the great place to live that we all know it is.

 We also want to again thank everyone who has supported our efforts and we look forward to serving you all in the future.

Stonehaven Child Reports Being Watched & Followed After Exiting School Bus.

 The Stonehaven Community Patrol received the following report from a Charring Place resident the afternoon of October 22, 2009. The report was compiled by the resident’s 13-year-old daughter.

 Please be extra vigilant when school buses are loading and unloading in our area. If you see anything that seems to be the slightest bit suspicious please call the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Dept. as well as the Stonehaven Community Patrol.

At about 3:30 Thursday, October 22, a black male was walking up and down Charter Place looking at houses and walking very slowly. I was coming home from school and noticed him. I did not have a key to the house and so I went to the neighbors to get a key. I saw the man watching me as I was walking in to get the key. I called my Mom and she dialed 911. I described the man to the police on the phone and the police drove to our house. They saw the man when they were driving to the house. The man had a black beard, red polo shirt, jeans, and white sneakers and looked to be in his 30’s or 40’s. The police left my house to go talk to the suspect.

Police make arrest in 3 rapes at Charlotte apartment complex

Charlotte, NC, 10.22.2009

WBT NEWS – JIM BARROLL

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police, after interviewing dozens of neighbors, have arrested a 20 year old man in connection with three sexual assaults at the Yorktown Garden Apartments this year.

CMPD officials say DNA taken from Phillip George Payton implicates him in assaults that occurred at the complex, where he also lives, in February and September.

They’re still awaiting DNA lab results from Monday’s sexual assault case. They say more charges will follow.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Issue Update on Sexual Assault Cases

From http://www.crimeincharlotte.com

Case Update:  Tuesday, October 20, 2009 

 The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Sexual Assault Unit continues to aggressively investigate the recent sexual assault cases that occurred at the Yorktown Apartments on Tyvola Drive and are working several leads.  Sexual Assault Unit detectives and Westover Division officers have conducted numerous canvasses of the apartment complex and surrounding neighborhoods.  Detectives are asking the local television stations and newspapers to broadcast and publish the attached photo.

 Detectives believe this distinct spray can is important to the investigation and that the suspect left this can behind at the scene of the sexual assault that occurred on September 21, 2009.

 If anyone in the public recognized an individual carrying this pictured item or has any additional information regarding these cases they’re asked to call Sexual Assault Unit Detective Mike Melendez at 704-353-0560.  We’re also asking anyone in the neighborhood who notices anything or anyone suspicious to immediately call 911.

 Additionally anonymous tips on these cases can be called in to our Crime Stoppers tip line at 704-334-1600. Tipsters may earn a cash reward of up to $1,000, for information helpful to the cases.

Residential Burglaries / Sexual Assaults at Yorktown Apartments

  The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Sexual Assault Unit is investigating three sexual assaults and residential burglaries that may be related. 

 On Monday October 19, 2009 at just after 8:00 am, Westover Division officers were dispatched to a sexual assault at the Yorktown Apartments on Tyvola Drive.

When officers arrived the victim stated the suspect broke into the apartment through the rear sliding glass door and sexually assaulted her.

On September 21, 2009 a victim stated she was sexually assaulted after the suspect forcibly broke into her Yorktown apartment

Just after 10:00 pm on February 28, 2009, Westover Division officers were dispatched to the Yorktown Apartments, the victim told officers the suspect forcibly entered her apartment before sexually assaulting her.

 On October 7, 2009 another sexual assault was reported on Kentland Drive which is adjacent to the apartment complex, but it was determined that case was not related to the three other cases at Yorktown Apartments.  A suspect has been arrested in the Kentland Drive case.

 Following this morning’s incident a full compliment of Sexual Assault detectives and Westover Division officers extensively canvassed the area in and around the apartment complex and will canvass the area again tonight as the residents return home from work.    

 Westover Divisions officers have also been working with the Yorktown Apartment management to make residents aware of the crimes. Officers have been assigned to the apartment complex for more than a month to address other incidents such as burglaries and larceny from autos.  In fact an officer was patrolling the other side of the complex when the incident occurred this morning, but the suspect eluded the officer before his arrival. Officers and detectives have conducted numerous field interviews and zone checks within the complex during the past two months. 

  Based on the suspect’s physical and clothing description, we believe that one suspect may be responsible for all three crimes.

 Suspect Description:

 The suspect is described as a black male approximately 25 years old.  He’s reported to be tall with a slim build wearing a black ski mask, gloves, black shirt, and black pants. The suspect may also have a cut on one of his fingers.

 The CMPD crime lab continues to process evidence obtained from the crime scenes.

 CMPD encourages anyone in the area who notices anything or anyone unusual to immediately call 911.

Anyone with information regarding these cases can call lead Detective Mike Melendez at 704-353-0560 or phone anonymous tips into Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

 Rob Tufano

CMPD Public Affairs Coordinator

704-336-7042

704-301-8605 (cell)