York County, SC Sheriff’s Detective Pronounced Dead One Day After Shooting

From Crime in Charlotte, January 18, 2018

A York County, SC Sheriff’s Detective critically injured in a shooting on Tuesday morning, January 17, 2018 was pronounced dead on Wednesday night, January 18, 2018.

The detective was shot during an incident in which three other officers were injured. Michael Doty, who had been a member of the Sheriff’s office for 12 years, was part of a manhunt for a suspect following a domestic incident in an area outside of York on Farrier Lane.

According to reports, the suspect, 47-year-old Christian Thomas McCall, fled the home after a call was made reporting an attack in progress on a woman. He fled into a nearby wooded area where members of the SWAT team as well as K9 officers were involved in a manhunt.

During the incident, McCall opened fire, striking Michael Doty. K9 Deputy Randy Clinton, Sheriff’s Sgt. Buddy Brown, and York Police Sgt. Kyle Cummings were also struck with gunfire.

Doty received critical injuries and was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on Wednesday night. This newest development in the case will likely exacerbate the expected charges of the suspect.

McCall was also shot by officers during the incident and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The other three officers are expected to survive their injuries.

Man Arrested in East-Charlotte Circle K Robbery

From Crime in Charlotte, January 16, 2018

A man has been arrested in connection to the robbery of a Circle K in east Charlotte.

The robbery took place at the convenience store at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Monday morning, January 15, 2016. According to police, the suspect arrived at the location at 7225 Albemarle Road and proceeded into the store where he held a gun to the clerk at the counter and demanded that they open the cash register. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen from the register before the suspect fled in his vehicle.

The clerk was able to write down the license plate number of the suspect’s vehicle which assisted police in finding the vehicle before the night was out. Officers located the car and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect refused to stop, leading police on a chase before he lost control of the vehicle and crashed it at a location on Idlewild Road. Police then identified and arrested 40-year-old Melvin Lorenzo Jones Jr.

The suspect was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, careless and reckless driving, driving while license revoked, and operating a motor vehicle while fleeing law enforcement.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

CMPD, Ex-Inmates Team Up to Find Crime-Fighting Solutions

From http://www.wsoctv.com by Dashawn Brown, January 19, 2018

Police Chief Kerr Putney said that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is now working with ex-inmates to tackle violent crime in the city in the Save Our Kids program.

“So, I went to prison the first time when I was 16 years old,” Cedric Dean said.

Dean, 45, who is a Charlotte Native, has spent nearly half of his life in prison. Dean started Save Our Kids in 2012 while he was in prison.

“When I got sentenced, the judge told me that, ‘If you die and come back to life, you’ve still got five years to do,’” Dean said.

Dean is now home 22 years later.

“I had a praying mother that never gave up on me,” he said.

Dean said his work now is to help find solutions in the same community where he was a part of the problem.

“I was the person that the warden would work hand in hand with,” Dean said. “He would say, ‘You know what? Dean, right here, he is closest to the problem, so he is closest to the solution.’ And that’s what Chief Putney has subscribed to.”

Putney voiced his support for Dean’s initiative Friday night and it will be added to an existing community empowerment initiative that CMPD launched last summer.

They’ll also work with officers, educators, professionals and local churches.

It’s a chance that Dean wasn’t sure he’d ever had.

“I’m not a psychologist. I’m a ‘thugologist’ because when it comes to ‘thuggery,’ I know the cause and cure because that was me,” Dean said.

Putney also put out a call for anyone in the community who’s able to help with giving money to help fund these community programs.

CMPD Searching for Suspect in January 11, 2018 Murder

From http://www.wcnc.com, January 11, 2018

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said a man is on the run following a deadly shooting in west Charlotte.

Shortly after 2 p.m. officers responded to the 4100 block of Carlyle Drive and discovered the body of a woman. Her name will be released once family is notified.

Investigators said they are searching for 23-year-old Jonathan Bennett. He was last seen driving an older, white Ford Expedition with New York license plates HUP3071.

Detectives said Bennett took an infant with him, Journei Bennett. Around 5:30 p.m., police tweeted the child had been found safe, but the suspect was still at large.

Police told NBC Charlotte another child was found on the scene of the homicide unharmed.

Anyone with information about Bennett is asked to call 704-432-TIPS or visit the Crime Stoppers website.

This is the first homicide reported in the Queen City in 2018.

We checked into Bennett’s criminal history. He’s been charged in the past with assault on a female, communicating threats and misdemeanor larceny.