Cedar Posts thought it might be helpful if the story included photos of those voicing their concerns, in this case their mug shots serve the purpose rather nicely.
From the Charlotte Observer:
At least half a dozen Timber Ridge residents told the Observer Friday that the intense police presence can sometimes feel like harassment and increase tensions - particularly in their community, where the shooting deaths of two officers in 2007 has chilled relations between police and residents.
"They've got zero tolerance for anything," says Charles Dixon, who often stays with friends at the complex.
Dixon (Most recently arrested for assault on a female, driving with a revoked license, possession, intent to distribute, cocaine, protective order violation, resisting arrest, habitual felon, failure to heed blue light.)
"They're always stopping people, getting in people's faces." Dixon added.
When the shot rang out, resident Dealmon Rivers sprinted toward the playground, searching for his 4-year-old son. As he closed in, the boy passed his dad, running for home - then locked everyone else outside, and closed the blinds.
Rivers
"He was terrified," Rivers said. "He was hollering, 'The cop is going to shoot me.'
"It took two minutes for us to get him to let us in."
CMPD has recorded 349 crimes in the 100-unit complex since January 2006.
In 2007, Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton were responding to an unrelated domestic-disturbance call when they were fatally shot. Police have charged 28-year-old Demeatrius Montgomery with the killings, and two homicides have occurred at Timber Ridge since then.
Yet according to the Charlotte Observer: Some residents say the constant police presence can escalate tension. Darden's girlfriend says that may be why he ran from police.
Darden is a felon who served time for cocaine possession. And police have searched him before at Timber Ridge, friends say.
McBrayer (Most recently arrested on February 24, 2010 for Worthless Checks and Possession of Marijuana)
"They harass people for no reason," said Chateama McBrayer, 33. "He's a felon. He knows they're going to stop him."
24 comments:
ROFLMAO way to go Cedar!
This is the future of our once proud country.
Now that's awesome Cedar!!! That is by far the best article you have ever done! That really shows the honest, caring, and concerned citizens that the news chooses to interview. Good points of reference to show the rest of the community where the opinions are coming from. Maybe you should forward that to the Observer. I especially love the second guy trying to act like a loving, concerned father.
Thankl Youi Cedar for telling the facts You Rock!
Yeah, it sounds great Cedar...Unless you actually think about the facts...Anyone that understands and/or cares about the justice system, how it is supposed to work and why, knows exactly what is so wrong with this situation. get your heart right Cedar.
Did this community not have a neighborhood cook out recently in an effort to bring its residents together to prevent crime and come together as a whole..I would bet these same roughians who are complaining about the police harassment ate until their hearts were content. and their big ole stomachs too.
Life in communities like this one has always been the same. Full of crime and police presence. There was a time when West Blvd was so clean that anyone could have walked from West and East to the airport and no one would have ever looked or even thought of commiting any act of stupidity towards them. Why? Because police presence and 100% no tolerance, with the help of the good people of the neighborhood ran everyone out or sent them to jail. But there is another solution and it does work very well. Bring in the bulldozers and level it and displace the thugs and give the good people a new home.
Those were the good times. I will honor those officers until my last day on earth. And then we will be sitting up there together laughing like fools..
what matters here is only what happened in this incident, and should be judged based solely on that.
It has nothing to do with honoring or dishonoring those officers. What happened to them is horrible. No dispute there,but from what I understand, those people were not involved, so it is not fair to blame them.
There were 30 kids playing on the playground. no one was doing anything to cause the officers to get out of their car and approach them. The guy tried to walk away to his girlfriends apartment. they pursued him without cause. They corner him near the apartment and have words,he gets shot while running away. Do you really think this is a good idea? really?
Many of those 30 kids will always think there is a war between us and them. What kind of future is that going to be.
I think tha Queen City mentioned in a post that she was on the wrong side of things at some point and an Officer helped her. I am sure that that had something to do with compassion and making her feel that she could do better. But how would that have turned out if she was made to feel that she was less than, had nothing to lose,bullied, intimidated looked down on and basically bad.
Actually maybe Tha Queen City could answer this. I think we all have something to learn from it. Sorry about this Tha Queen City, but I think what you could share about that is important.
for the record, I am Caucasian and live in Ballantyne. I have no criminal hstory, I have several family members working in various levels of government, including the US Embassy in Afghanistan and the military. Even though I have no idea of what it is like to live like these people, I was brought up to have respect for all people, regardless of their station in life.
How often do you see people who were not born into that type of situation, just choosing to live it?
Those officers were trying to intimidate these people, and by doing so, they were looking for trouble. They had no call. When they saw no trouble, they should have driven by and waved. End of story. No one can deny that this began with and revolved solely around the Officers.
after reading Anonymous 10:41, my stomach is churning and my heart aches that anyone can truly be that out of touch with reality..
What would you bet a background check would show not one adult with a clean record at Timber Ridge?
I am actually very impressed that CMPD rolled old school -- just a couple officers moving in to see what a crowd was up to NOT send in the tac squad. I'm sure the emphasis was on getting weapons out of the mix and that the word was out not to be caught packing.
Great work Cedar!!! It always seems like you take 1 step back and then you impress me and take 2 steps forward!!! And great work to CMPD!!! God forbid CMPD protects the community by taking a gun toting felon off the street. Don't worry, it's Mecklenburg so he'll either get a little time or probation!!! The officer took 1 shot and hit... Nothing reckless... Everyone talks about the kids in the playground and the police. What about the felon running around the playground w/ a gun or the dealers slanting from the seesaw. Good job observer for interviewing the people in Timber Ridge that really care!!!
If Anonymous July 4, 10:41 is so concerned, there is real affordable housing in that complex or in the neighborhood surrounding that community. Move in and then start preaching.
I'm sick of "Baby's momma" or Baby's daddy" pointing at officers and saying he is going to get you thus starting a culture of hate and fear from the get go.
By the way, Charles Dixon still has warrants for his arrest: Robbery, B&E felony and Assault on a female.
Anon 10:41, You have no real idea of what we face each and every day. Why don't you go do a ride-along in one of the busy districts and see what really goes on.
You would be shocked at what we see every day. I know people's addresses by heart because we go there so often. And this doesn't just include adults, I know several juveniles as well.
The officers did not pursue him without cause. The officers did nothing wrong in this instance. The person who did wrong was the convicted felon who was carrying a firearm and then decided to pull out that gun while running from the police. If the felon had not pulled the gun out, he would not have been shot and your "children" would not have seen anything different than what they see every day.
It is the parents and their friends who teach their children to hate the police, not the police.
OK folks, I have decided to challenge ANON 10:40!
I have been in the helping field since I got clean and sober! I admit I am totally discouraged, and fed up like many others, but mainly I feel at a loss as to how to really help, and to truly make a difference, so I gave up! MY BAD...
I have deleted my previous comments as I do not want my words to stop anyone from sharing because they think I am not being sincere! I am very serious & sincere about HELPING others!
But what is the solution....so with that I am asking you to share what you think can be done....
http://thaqueencity.blogspot.com/2010/07/serious-questions-need-serious-answers.html
You guys and Tara Servatius rock! I hope she covers this interesting fact as well. Thanks for catching another one of the Observer's slanted stories.
The animals over at Timber Ridge apparently love the police so much they desecrated the memorial to Officers Clark and Shelton.
The wonderful citizens of Timber Ridge have once again demonstrated what utter pieces of shit getto rat scum they really are by desecrating a memorial dedicated to the lives and sacrifice of two heroes that had NOTHING to do with this latest incident. Sean and Jeff, I'm sorry that you gave your lives in defense of these worthless, low life, no good pieces of filth. Screw em all, let's convince Johnny Jennings to issue a standing order for all North Tryon officers to remain clear of Timber Ridge and let natural selection sort that shit hole out. I have no more sympathy. Trashing that memorial was the last straw and unforgivable.
How about we level Timber Ridge? Wouldn't make me cry if we forgot to tell a few of the crack heads before we dropped da bomb either!
OK, after several days of thinking about this (and no takers on serious ideas & solutions) here is what I have come up with!
Three strikes you are ENLISTED, in the military I mean! I like that idea.
If that training doesn't kill ya or make ya think then facing REAL thugs, i.e. TERRORISTS will! And if you prove to be NOT as bad as you thought you were here on our streets well then, BYE!
Problem solved!
Our jails, prison & courts being over crowded, SOLVED, and the best part, they don't get time to eat, sleep n think of new ways to terrorize us once released!!
Works for me :-)
If you're a screw-up in the civilian world, that trait will be amplified via exposure in the military. Do you really think putting a bunch of goons in the military is a good idea?
Lest we forget: "We're over there so they won't cut your heads off over here". Enough off topic stuff, though.
Cedar, super job in adding perspective to the story!
I strongly suspect that I am going to get bashed for saying this, but since the question was asked, I am going to give it the respect of an answer, so here it is.
clearly, there is no easy or perfect answer, and no matter what is done, it is going to be risky, but then each time an Officer responds to a call, it is risky, and I don't think there is any way around that.
I do think the solution is not in forgetting the Officers that lost their lives there, but in honoring them. This is just a quick thought and would need adjustment to get it as close to right as possible, but to start it begins with that community as a test. It could be called the Jeff Shelton, Sean Clark community reform act or something like that. Initially just focusing on that community. 2 2nd shift liaisons are assigned to them solely to start. Their purpose is to find out if there are any situations that are able to be helped, starting with group meetings and then adding in individual contacts, also acting as a confidante (clearly the residents must be noticed in detail of this project first)while helping people get to the appropriate agencies if they are willing to be helped. Also separate meetings geared to the kids. It does not sound like the community does background checks, but they could add an addendum to the lease that requires any new residents to participate in a certain amount of the meetings and/or their children by a certain age.
The liaisons wold have to have some psychology background and preferably undercover experience with these types of people so that they will be able to relate to them easily. They would also be responsible to make recommendations to the police department without violating any information they received in confidence. there may be some people that cant get jobs because of past criminal history and dont really think they can do anything but sell drugs, so the liasion would help them with those issues.(sort of like community officers, but with more specialized personal attention and an in depth focus to acquire trust and offer solutions where possible). I dont disagree that the parents are the ones that make the kids think it us against them, but we dont want all those kids on the streets selling crack and shooting people, so its on us to show them different before they are too far gone. Obviously there is a lot more detail that would have to go into the matter than I can put in this post, but basically it would take 6 months to see improvement and about 2 years for reform and that is if the program was flexible enough to adjust it as needed.
I just think the best way to honor the memory of those Officers is to reform that community. If that shows progress,use the same plan in other problem areas.
There may be better answers, but that is the best I could do on short notice.
I strongly suspect that I am going to get bashed for saying this, but since the question was asked, I am going to give it the respect of an answer, so here it is.
clearly, there is no easy or perfect answer, and no matter what is done, it is going to be risky, but then each time an Officer responds to a call, it is risky, and I don't think there is any way around that.
I do think the solution is not in forgetting the Officers that lost their lives there, but in honoring them. This is just a quick thought and would need adjustment to get it as close to right as possible, but to start it begins with that community as a test. It could be called the Jeff Shelton, Sean Clark community reform act or something like that. Initially just focusing on that community. 2 2nd shift liaisons are assigned to them solely to start. Their purpose is to find out if there are any situations that are able to be helped, starting with group meetings and then adding in individual contacts, also acting as a confidante (clearly the residents must be noticed in detail of this project first)while helping people get to the appropriate agencies if they are willing to be helped. Also separate meetings geared to the kids. It does not sound like the community does background checks, but they could add an addendum to the lease that requires any new residents to participate in a certain amount of the meetings and/or their children by a certain age.
next...
The liaisons wold have to have some psychology background and preferably undercover experience with these types of people so that they will be able to relate to them easily. They would also be responsible to make recommendations to the police department without violating any information they received in confidence. there may be some people that cant get jobs because of past criminal history and dont really think they can do anything but sell drugs, so the liasion would help them with those issues.(sort of like community officers, but with more specialized personal attention and an in depth focus to acquire trust and offer solutions where possible). I dont disagree that the parents are the ones that make the kids think it us against them, but we dont want all those kids on the streets selling crack and shooting people, so its on us to show them different before they are too far gone. Obviously there is a lot more detail that would have to go into the matter than I can put in this post, but basically it would take 6 months to see improvement and about 2 years for reform and that is if the program was flexible enough to adjust it as needed.
I just think the best way to honor the memory of those Officers is to reform that community. If that shows progress,use the same plan in other problem areas.
There may be better answers, but that is the best I could do on short notice.
First of all the gentlemen was running with his back to the officer and not only that in a motion of discovery the shooting officer TJ said he gave commands for the gentleman to comply but his fellow officers herd no such commands also police carry tasers why was deadly force used not saying he was the only wrong person in the situation but truth is if the young man’s skin was lighter a lot lighter (white) do you believe he would have been shot in the back by definition this situation is a form of police brutality” (Police brutality is the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians.)” because not only did the officer not know that the civilian was a felon he never came in contact with this man to even consider if he was or wasn’t he had no reason to even stop him at all not to mention their fellow blue brothers who used to territories the neighborhood was brutally murdered just my opinion this actually was a act of revenge because their fallen brothers and what they felt was disrespectful to their memorial but the truth is this complex is for the renters not the police
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