CMPD Seeks Robber / Rapist who Stages Vehicle Accidents

By ten8, www.ten8.wordpress.com

WBT News; www.wbt.com

Charlotte –  

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating two related crimes in which a man staged traffic accidents to rob and rape women driving late at night. Police say both incidents happened early Monday morning – one in Myers Park, the other in Dilworth.

According to police, the first occurred around 2am when a vehicle with two women was struck from behind at the intersection of Runnymeade and Colony Roads.

When the female driver exited the vehicle to check for damage, police say she was confronted by a man armed with a handgun. Police say when the females were unable to produce any money, the suspect forced them to drive to an ATM and later taken to the 3000 block of Ferncliff Road, where he raped the driver and fondled the passenger,.

The second incident happened on the 700 block of McDonald Avenue near Ideal Way when a lone female victim was driving home around 2:35 am. Police say her vehicle was intentionally struck from behind. When the victim exited her vehicle, she was robbed at gunpoint. The suspect then fled the area.

Police describe the suspect  as  dark skinned black male, 5′10 in height, thin build with a goatee. They say the suspect could be targeting women leaving bars and nightclubs.

Police are urging anyone with information about these two incidents to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. The lead detective assigned to this case is Det. C. Owens with the Sexual Assault and can be reached at 704-336-6030 and Sgt. D. Price at 704-336-4188, police said.

SCP Obtains Police Interceptor Patrol Vehicle

Stonehaven Community Patrol founder Brian K. Lutes is proud to announce that the Patrol has obtained a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor from the Southern Motor Company in Pineville, NC.

The vehicle, which was purchased with the personal funds of  Stonehaven Patrol founder Brian Lutes & his wife, was originally owned by the Gaston County, NC Police Dept., is equipped with Ford’s factory “Police Interceptor” package which includes “rough service” components such as an extra-capacity cooling system, heavy duty vehicle suspension & braking systems, a high output 4.6 litre engine and electrical system as well as rough service interior seat fabrics.

To see more pictures of the Stonehaven Community Patrol’s new vehicle Click Here.

The vehicle features a two tone green over silver paint scheme as well as reflective striping and “Stonehaven Community Patrol” placarding.

In addition, the vehicle is equipped with  green & white LED dash mounted emergency lighting as well as green strobe emergency beacon lights on its rear deck.

Having access to the vehicle on a “24/7″ basis has enabled the Patrol to greatly increase the number of hours spent patrolling the streets of the Stonehaven Area and allowed us to respond to calls for assistance much more consistently.

The cost of the vehicle alone was $2,100.00 and minor repairs such as a new battery & requisite cables, etc. cost approximately $350.00.

To date the Patrol has received just under $400 in contributions toward the cost of the vehicle  from the more than generous residents of the communities we serve and we hope to be the benificiaries of further contributions that will be used for maintenance of the vehicle.

We are greatly in need of additional financial contributions to support our operation of the vehicle, purchase batteries for flashlights & portable radios, attend requisite training classes, obtain needed educational materials such as updates to the North Carolina Motor Vehicle & Criminal Law Handbook, and miscellaneous equipment such as appropriate “Stonehaven Community Patrol” uniform apparrel and duty boots.

We have been certified as a North Carolina Non-Profit organization by the NC Secretary of State’s office and established an account at the Bank of America. 

 Financial contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated and checks or money orders can be sent to “Stonehaven Community Patrol” care of Phyllis Rea, 6009 Gate Post Road, Stonehaven, Charlotte, NC 28211. Phyllis can also be contacted via e-mail @ sgreafamily@earthlink.net. We will also happily receive gift cards from any retailer in any amount.

In addition, anyone with any questions can visit our web-site, www.scp09.wordpress.com or send us an-e-mail at contactscp@yahoo.com, or simply call us at 980-297-8446. We are also very happy to personally meet anyone interested in our program in any way.

Feisty Senior Fights Off Robber

From http://www.ten8.wordpress.com

Elderly Customer Comes To Aid Of Store Clerk

BOSTON — An elderly woman showed some might and came to the aid of a store clerk in the middle of a robbery, Boston TV station WCVB reported Wednesday.

The woman is seen on videotape chatting with the 7-Eleven clerk.

 A man then walked in to the store, went behind the counter and began struggling with the cashier, police said.

 The elderly customer is shown grabbing a hand-held scanner and swinging at the man, who grabbed some money and began to leave the store.

 The woman took one more swing at the man, who police identified as Michael McInnis, 34. He was arrested a short time later.

 Court records show he’s been arraigned more than 50 times — mostly for violent offenses.

 ”Certainly it is not something we recommend for anyone to do. However she displayed a little feistiness perhaps that you would have at that age upon seeing that. She is a regular customer who talks to the clerk. I think she took it a little personally,” Malden Police Department Capt. Tom Swanson said.

 The woman has not been identified. McInnis was held on $1,500 bail.

Wasp Spray Better than Pepper Spray?

From www.ten8.wordpress.com

If you don’t have a gun, here’s a more humane 
way to wreck someone’s evil plans for you..

Wasp Spray

A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area  was
concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them
when they were counting the collection..  She asked the local police
department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that
she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is
a lot more accurate, while with the pepper 
spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The 
wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the 
hospital for an antidote.  She keeps a can on her desk in the office 
and it doesn’t attract attention from people like a can of pepper 
spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection. 
Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in
Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save 
your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at 
Sylvania Southview High School. For decades, he’s suggested putting a 
can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, “This is better than anything I can teach them.”

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than
mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so 
if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says “spray the 
culprit in the eyes”. It’s a tip he’s given to students for 
decades.

It’s also one he wants everyone to hear. If you’re looking for
protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

“That’s going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get 
out.”

Maybe even save a life. 

Please share this with all the people in your life

Jury Finds Housing Authority Negligent

By Ely Portillo
elyportillo@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010

Sons of woman killed by a crack addict at Charlotte complex are awarded $132,000 over claim of inadequate tenant screening.

Negligence by the Charlotte Housing Authority led to an elderly woman’s 2007 death at the hands of a crack cocaine addict, a jury ruled Tuesday.

Attorneys sued the agency on behalf of the estate of Eva Dunlap Green, 63. She was strangled three years ago in her ninth-floor apartment at Charlottetown Terrace, a public housing complex for the elderly and disabled near uptown.

Her 46-year-old neighbor Kenneth Cyrus – a man attorneys said has a history of violence, drugs and mental illness – was convicted of her killing.

Jurors awarded Green’s sons a total of $132,000 – far less than the $10.4 million in damages they were asking for. Jurors said they couldn’t agree on a monetary amount, and the final figure was a compromise.

At issue in the two-week trial was whether the Housing Authority properly screened Cyrus before it let him live in the Charlottetown Apartments on Baxter Street.

“There were so many signs along the way that Kenneth Cyrus should not have been living in public housing,” said Green’s attorney Harvey Kennedy.

He argued that the Housing Authority violated its own procedures by doing only an N.C. background check – not nationwide – on Cyrus.

That check missed violent crime and drug convictions in Maryland that would have prevented him from living at Charlottetown, according to Kennedy.

The jury agreed. “We feel like (Green’s killing) could have been prevented,” said foreman Brian Henry.

Charlotte Housing Authority officials wouldn’t say Tuesday what, if any, changes might be made to the tenant screening process. A spokeswoman said officials are meeting with their legal team to determine whether to appeal the verdict. They plan to issue a statement today.

Green’s relatives declined to comment Tuesday.

Kennedy said he hopes the judgment will make the Housing Authority do more comprehensive background checks.

Said Kennedy: “We should not lose sight of the fact that a good woman, who was a nurse in Charlotte for 40 years, died here.”

Police: Man Attacked 2 Women in E. Charlotte

Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
cwootson@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Friday, Feb. 12, 2010

Police are asking the public to help them find a man who they say tried to sexually assault two women in East Charlotte last week.

The attempted assaults happened near where Milton Road, Harris Boulevard and Sharon Amity Road converge in east Charlotte.

The first happened on Feb. 2 just after 10 p.m. Police say a woman was approached by the suspect, who indicated that he had a weapon and demanded her purse. When the woman handed over her purse, police say, the man tried to sexually assault her. The woman was able to get away.

The second attempt happened on Feb. 4 around 12:40 a.m. Another woman was approached by a suspect who fit the same description. The suspect indicated a weapon and told the woman he wanted her to perform sexual acts with him. When the woman refused, the two struggled with each other before the victim was able to break free and escape.

Police released a composite drawing of the suspect. They say he is a light-skinned black male, in his late teens to early 20s. He has no facial hair, and is between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8. He was last seen wearing a dark hooded jacket.

Officers ask that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. The investigating officer can be reached at 704-353-0094.

Daytime Burglaries Prompt Response From Police

By: Aundrea Cline-Thomas

www.news14.com

  CHARLOTTE – Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are trying to curb a recent spike in home burglaries. The Eastway Division reported 39 break-ins in a span of two weeks, and they say thieves are targeting homes in the middle of the day.

 Police say in most cases, the thieves are entering through the back door of the homes and stealing high-priced items.

 To curb crime, police are encouraging neighbors to get to know and look out for each other.

 “Be a nosey neighbor,” Staff Sgt. Christian Wagner, with CMPD, said. “If you see something suspicious, call 911 about it.”

 Police say they’re not sure whether the burglaries are related. They suggest leaving a light and radio or TV on to make it look like someone is home during the day.

 Currently, the police department is looking for a rust-colored and old model of Oldsmobile with a white top and spider web crack on the windshield.

 If you have any information, you’re asked to call police.

 

Police Seek Help Finding Burglary Suspects

By Ely Portillo
elyportillo@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Monday, Feb. 01, 2010

 Police on Monday released surveillance photos of two burglary suspects sought in connection with a home break-in in northeast Charlotte last week.

 The men are accused of breaking into a house in the 2700 block of James Road, off Plaza Road Extension, last Friday.

 A stolen van was later found at a nearby shopping center containing items taken from the home. Surveillance cameras captured a shot of two men walking away from the van.

 Anyone who recognizes the men is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Tipsters can remain anonymous and earn up to $1,000 in reward money.