CMPD's Central Division Commander: Uptown Speed Street Melee Was "Not A Near Riot"

According to the "Local Paper" a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police official said Tuesday that fighting and shootings that left one person dead and led to 70 arrests early Sunday in Charlotte's uptown were not a case of "near-rioting."

Capt. Jeff Estes, commander of CMPD's Central Division, which oversees the uptown area, said the early-morning trouble was a "serious matter," but he said it was not a situation in which large groups of people were "out of control in the streets."

"We never lost control of the streets, and we never lost control of the crowds," Estes said. "It was not a 'near-riot,' as it's being described in some cases."

Estes acknowledged the number of arrests -- about 70 -- was larger than normal for a weekend night in uptown. But he said it was an effort by police to curb troubles before they worsened.

Estes also said the shooting that left one man dead and another injured are a high-priority matter for police investigators.

"If there were 20,000 or 30,000 people in the uptown area Saturday night, and we're talking about 70 arrests, that's a fraction of the people who were in the area," Estes said.

He added, "This was not a minor event. There were problems, and we had to deal with it."

Estes said he knew of no confrontations between the troublemakers and two other groups in the uptown area -- those spending the evening at the clubs and restaurants in Center City, and the people visiting Food Lion Speed Street, the NASCAR-related concerts and displays in uptown.

"Speed Street ended a few hours before the trouble began," he said.

You can read the rest of the "Local Paper's" updated story here.

Cedar's Take: I suspect it depends on your perspective, compared to the riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago or maybe New Orleans during Mardi Gras, it wasn't a true riot or "near riot".

But this is Charlotte, North Carolina, I've lived here all my life and we don't have street fights here without calling them riots.

We don't have groups of people roaming the streets "flashing gang signs" blocking intersections and shooting at one another without calling it a riot.

We don't have people refusing to disperse and go home, mouthing off to police officers or call in the Civil Emergency Unit (Riot Police) in full riot gear without out calling it a riot.

For CMPD's Captain Estes to say that he knows of no confrontations between the thugs and two other groups in the uptown area, those spending the evening at the clubs and restaurants in Center City, and the people visiting Food Lion Speed Street, is just plain nutty.

In an effort to "spin" the story and downplay the violence, Estes has diminished the value of law abiding citizens and validated those who think there is nothing wrong with wanting to roam the streets, beat up and intimidate people, flash gang signs and shoot at each other.

The definition of Riot: A public disturbance involving an assemblage of three or more persons who by disorderly and violent conduct or the imminent threat of disorderly and violent conduct results in injury or damage to persons or property or creates a clear and present danger of injury or damage to persons or property.

Source: CMPD Interactive Directives Guide 900-015 Page Section 111 Paragraph I.

GOP Mayoral Candidate Scott Stone Warns Uptown Violence is Not Isolated Incident

Scott Stone's campaign released the following early this afternoon:

Stone Warns that Uptown Violence is not Isolated Incident
Mayor more concerned about protecting city image than protecting Charlotte citizens

Charlotte, NC – Charlotte mayoral candidate Scott Stone called on the current mayor to take a stronger stance on the ongoing gang violence and the activities associated with the recent Uptown riot.

Stone’s comments follow the violent riot that occurred in Uptown Charlotte over the weekend, leaving one dead and 70 arrested.

“The current mayor is more concerned about protecting the city’s image than he is about protecting our citizens,” Stone said. “The DNC coming to town has nothing to do with the daily challenges we face. Ongoing gang crime in our commerce centers, such as Uptown, will dramatically impact economic recovery and kill jobs. People will not go to dinner and shows in Uptown if they do not feel safe walking down the street.”

Stone called on the mayor to get engaged in the issue. “Our current mayor has severely misjudged the situation and has been invisible. He believes that this weekend’s riots are an isolated incident which only needs investigation. However, this is an ongoing problem. We have gangs in Charlotte and we need a mayor who is willing to admit that if we are going to fix the problem.”

Stone called for aggressive pro-active enforcement of existing anti-loitering laws and curfews as a first step. “Our officers on the street are frustrated. They are held back from being proactive in on-the-street enforcement,” Stone said, citing direct discussions with CMPD officers. “Our officers are constantly worried about taking necessary and appropriate actions on their patrols because they are worried about the ‘political correctness’ environment which too often drives their actions and decisions.”

Rebel Flag Bikini Creates Stir at Rock Hill Pool

From The Rock Hill Herald: A swimsuit with the Confederate battle flag caused controversy this weekend at a Rock Hill apartment complex swimming pool.

A man says someone pointed a gun at him at the Paces River Avenue pool Sunday because one of his friends was wearing the rebel-themed bathing suit, according to a Rock Hill police report.

The 20-year-old said he and his friends were hanging out around 8 p.m. when a group of people approached them, the report states. The group began calling them racists because a girl in his party was wearing a "stars and bars rebel flag" bikini. The group then surrounded him, so he stood up.

One of the suspects pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at him, but fled when he realized the police had been called, the report states. They took off in the direction of Riverchase Boulevard toward Celanese Road.

The gunman is unknown.

NOTE: The Herald wrongly refers to the flag in question as the "stars and bars rebel flag". The "stars and bars" flag is the first flag on the Confederacy, consiting of one white and two red "bars" and a square field of blue with a circle of white "stars". The flag in question is the Confederate Battle Flag also know as the "Army of Northern Virginia battle flag".

Spin and Disinformation Will Not Fix Uptown Charlotte's Damaged Image

In an amazing break with the status quo, WBTV is reporting that Sunday morning's riots and homicide happened in the "heart of where the DNC will take place" next year.

This is a huge shift from the spin coming out of CMPD and the Observer who have stated the melee happened "blocks away" from the 2012 convention site.

WBTV's report which is here also turns away from the idea that the groups were not a part of the Speed Street event.

Charlotte's elected officials including Mayor Anthony Foxx are blindly throwing their support to Chief Monroe to correct the problem. In a statement released to WBTV Mayor Foxx said:

"The crime that took place Sunday morning is disturbing and unacceptable. Neither our center city nor any of our neighborhoods are appropriate places for violence," Foxx said in his statement. "Over the last twenty four hours, our police force has been focused on getting to the bottom of this incident. I have full confidence that Chief [Rodney] Monroe will use all of the tools available to find and ensure the prosecution of those responsible and take preemptive actions to make sure this rare occurrence does not repeat itself. While Charlotte's crime rate is the lowest in 30 years, the events of Sunday night are a harsh reminder that we still have more work to do."

Getting to the "bottom" of this incident sounds like a good idea, the goal of finding a solution to prevent this "rare occurrence" so that it doesn't repeat itself is an understatement.

What is the solution? I honestly don't have even a flicker of an idea. But I know that "spin" and "disinformation" will not fix what is wrong here.

CMPD was overwhelmed by the number of Speed Street attendees who were outside of the demographic. In other words the 30,000 non participants who showed up.

This is not something that "new laws" can fix. This is a cultural thing. We have a segment of our population (they just happen to be African Americans) that embrace this sort of lifestyle. A lifestyle of violence, drugs, gangs and disrespect for common decency.

People, who for some reason think hanging out uptown and causing trouble is fun.

The attitude was compounded by the fact that weather on Thursday and Friday caused the crowds to stay away. This created a "perfect storm" of time and demand, as the weather cleared and the masses took to the streets.

The only thing Charlotte City Council can do is make it impossible for this segment of the population to attend these events.

Closing and relocating the transit center will be the first step. It can be done in short order. The transit center was created at the suggestion of Bank America who felt it was unseemly to have hordes of people standing around the square waiting to catch a bus. At the time the African American community screamed racism. And you can expect the same now but it must be done, as it should have been done long ago.

The CATS transfer station should be a non-destination single purpose building far from anytime of interest.

The second idea floating is to reduce or stop the bus service during events. Making nearly impossible to arrive at "Uptown Events" after a certain time.

Speed Street will from this point forward end at sunset.

CMPD was helpless on Saturday night. Duck and cover, stand by and watch. From many reports, the call for the CEU should have been made several hours earlier.

Expect the horse mounted officers request to spring to life again.

July 4th will be a watered down version of last year with insane amounts of police presence, and costs running out of control.

Finally expect the idea of holding events Uptown to fade into the past. The times square concept is flawed. The idea of the entire city turning out for a night of fun is a pipe dream.

It will take years of arrests and detainment, to change the thinking. BTW catch, detain and release may be the best answer. No mug shot, no court, just mouth off once and its ziptie city. Spend the rest of the night in a box only to be turned loose at 6am miles from home.

WBTV's Ron Lee Reports on Speed Street Gang Related Riot, Shooting and Homicide

Charlotte Leaders Speak Up About Saturday's Riot and Homicide But Do They Get It?

Charlotte City Councilman David Howard responded to Saturday night's riot via email: "I do look forward to learning more about this situation from city staff and CMPD." Howard also wrote, "I am confident that just like those other rare occasions when bad things happened, CMPD will take the proper actions to address these situations in the future."

Cedar's Take: Rare occasions like the riots in the above video uploaded last month? David Howard needs to lead not follow. If he's unwilling to lead then he better get the hell out of the way. CMPD was not prepared, NASCAR was not committed to public safety and how many times will this happen before Uptown becomes known as a war zone. How many chances does Charlotte get?

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx spoke to the "Local Paper" stating: "I think people understand a city is a city. And we move forward, and we are always trying to improve the model of safety for people who live in this community."

While calling the riot "very unfortunate" and the shootings "horrible," Mayor Foxx went on to say it would have no impact on the DNC.

"That's an entirely different event with a lot of other players involved in security," Foxx said.

When asked about having Charlotte safe for the DNC 2012 event Mayor Foxx responds:

"I think our track record in terms of overall crime statistics suggests we are working hard to get there."

Foxx added that the city is up to the task of securing the convention. "It's a continual effort," he said. "I think our city's going to do just fine."

Cedar's Take: Mayor Foxx coincides that a City is a City. Clearly he's given into the thinking that murders happen in cities and riots are just the cost of doing business in a city, or winning a Super Bowl. Unfreaking Believable!

Former Mecklenburg County commissioner Dan Murrey, chairman of the DNC's local host committee, said Sunday he's confident that appropriate security measures will be in place for the convention.

"I have a lot of confidence that over the course of the next year of preparations - between local, state and federal law enforcement - that downtown Charlotte will be very safe and secure for the convention effort," Murrey said.

Cedar's Take: Murrey is confident that with the addition of state and federal law enforcement downtown will be very safe and secure. So let's admit CMPD is out of it's league and you are not safe Uptown when the thugs show up, unless of course it's during the Democratic National Convention!

WSOC TV caught up the Charlotte City Councilman Andy Dulin who told reporters that the Transit Center will be one focus of their plan to fix the problem.

"Any day of the week, seven days a week, 365 days out of the year, we're going to fix it so people are safe when they go to the transfer station," Dulin said.

Dulin said that on a scale of 1 to 10, his concern is at twelve.

"I don't normally speak for the city council and the mayor, but I'm going to speak for them now: we're going to fix that problem," Dulin said.

Cedar's Take: Andy Dulin is full of hot air. Over the last two years Cedar Posts has asked Councilman Dulin to respond to concerns about crime and CMPD's lack of operational preparedness. Nothing but crickets from Dulin. WSOC and Fox Charlotte aired the video at the top of this post and Dulin advised it was blown out of proportion.

More of WSOC TV's report is here.

The "Local Paper" went on to say "The core of DNC events will take place at Time Warner Cable Arena and the Charlotte Convention Center. They are blocks from the shooting scene and the Charlotte Transit Center"



Cedar's Take: I'm not sure what city the Observer news staff is located, but the homicide took place on 3rd Street near College, the second shooting at 4th and College, and so I wouldn't say "blocks" away.

The "Charlotte Transit Center" were most of the rioting took place is right next door to the Time Warner Cable Arena. The logical route to most of the hotels and restaurants in the area is via College Street. The murder took place less than 2 blocks from the Charlotte Convention Center front door on College Street. 15 months from now most of the DNC attendees will walk over the same spot where Antwan Smith bleed out and died on Sunday morning.

Are you safe in Uptown? You tell me.

Roadway (A Dog Story)

A steady rain has turned the Pilot Truck Stop in Bowman, South Carolina into a concrete slab of humidity and dampness. As the rain soaks the late evening, 18 wheelers rumble in and out, air brakes hiss and spit, and potholes filled with water are splashed empty only to refill again and again.

Travelers come and go, doors open, tanks are filled, oil dipsticks are checked, hoods are slammed shut, and cars and massive trucks roar off into the rain soaked night.

On the damp cool pavement unnoticed by so many lies a pile of dirty wet black fur. She's curled up nose to tail and despite the never ending cycle of gas and go, she attempts a doggie nap.

Roadway is clearly a trucker's dog. Her crooked tail shows all the signs of a couple of painful encounters with a slamming Kenworth door.

She's a Black Lab mix, with all the Lab features, except the two white socks on her hind feet and the "just a tad" too short ears. But her personality is all Labrador Retriever.

She is a perpetual optimist.

Suddenly Roadway is up, and while her gait is unsteady at first, once she gets some momentum the affects of her noticeable arthritis diminish, a few strides later her tail begins to wag.

I watch her as she moves cautiously towards a small boy of seven who is traveling in a car full of family. Roadway's crooked tail is in full happy mode, as the boy carefully extends his hand. The boy's mother holds her breath and his father is ready to move in if needed. But Roadway is a Lab, she sits and leans against the boy and gladly nuzzles his open hand.

Roadway is homeless, she is muddy, generally wet and a little overweight. I'd guess her story goes something like this:

I was raised in the cab of a Kenworth and for eleven years I rode shotgun in that truck, living off scrapes and double cheeseburger happy meals. But as the miles rolled on and time took it's toll it became harder for me to get up into the cab of the tractor trailer rig that was my home.

A few nights ago when I couldn't get up into the cab, even after several attempts, my owner told me to stay and I watched the taillights of the only home I've ever known drive up the hill and vanish into the night.

Roadway circles the boy and and sits again. The boy hugs the dog and his sister comes up to say hello. She too is greeted with a happy tail and the gentleness that is the hallmark of Labrador Retrievers with children.

My tank is full and I still have 150 miles to go. The air is heavy with more rain on the way.

I tell the father she'd be a good dog. He asks the appropriate questions, and I give him my best guess. She would be a good dog I repeat. I suggest that the dad ask inside. But assure him she belongs to whoever will give her a good home.

My wheels turn, the wipers jump and settle, a turn signal, a splash. I don't look back. I can't look back.

The miles go by, and I imagine that by now Roadway is somehow wedged between and young boy and girl. That the Lab is now drifting off to a long uninterrupted doggie nap, contently resting her head in the lap of the boy while the vibration of rushing pavement under the wheels turn effortlessly up the interstate.

I am a perpetual optimist.

Post Speed Street ALL HELL BREAKS OUT!

Charlotte police officers had their hands full early this morning as dozens of African American thugs described as "several groups of people" by CMPD, confronted each other on the streets of "Uptown" Charlotte shortly after the Speed Street event had closed for the evening. The violence continued off and on for over two hours and ended in a homicide.

Nearly an hour after the official end of Speed Street events and long after most NASCAR fans had gone home, the groups began fighting during what some have described as "near riot" conditions in the post Speed Street hours.

According to CMPD the groups where not partaking in the Speed Street events but apparently came uptown to create general mayhem. The groups were seen roaming the area that included the Speed Street venue and the transit center.

"Officers noted people flashing gang signs, challenging other people as well as police officers, attempting to block sidewalks, and impeding vehicle traffic."

The mayhem reached a dramatic crescendo when CMPD officers heard several gunshots, and responded to the 200 block of 3rd Street to discover one person dead and another shot.

According to the CMPD press release, two groups became involved in one of many continuing altercations when a someone in the group pulled a handgun and fired at random, striking a man once in the head. He died at the scene.

The mob moved further down Collage street where a second person was shot in the lower leg. He was later transported in handcuffs to Carolinas Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

CMPD helicopter and K-9 units were called in but were unable to locate the shooting suspect.

The Speed Street event has been staffed with officers from CMPD's Central Division as well as paid off duty CMPD officers. As the conditions deteriorated additional CMPD resources, including CMPD's Civil Energency Unit aka riot police were called in to control the gangs.

A department email released at 3:18 this morning stated that "Approximately 70 arrests were made, including nearly 15 juvenile arrests. The majority of the arrests were made for disorderly conduct, fighting, assault and impeding traffic.

Cedar Posts Update: 11:00 AM After staying quiet most of the morning the "Local Paper" has now weighed in as have WBT and WSOC.

If you think Uptown is the place you want to be after dark this video might change your mind. The video is here. I'm not sure of the source but it appears to be from a CMPD camera taken with a cell phone video camera.

Note: The video linked above is not from last night's madness but from April. Though I expect the idea is much the same.

Cedar Posts Update: 4:23 PM CMPD has identified the deceased victim as Antwan Terrell Smith DOB 8/23/1988. Smith had priors for sexual assault, ADW, resiting arrest, assault on a female. He was last arrested in June of last year.


Antwan Terrell Smith

The second shooting victim has been identified at Durante Kavon James DOB 03/16/1989. James has a long arrest record dating back to at least 2008. Crimes included armed robbery, drug charges, trespassing, resisting a public officer. James is expected to recover from his injuries. No word on pending charges.


Durante Kavon James

Cop On Top Event Sets New Record

CMPD officers came out to the Chick fil-A at the Stonecrest at Piper Glen shopping center last weekend and raised nearly 35 percent more than last year. Total numbers were still not available late on Monday.

Cop On Top is an annual event to help raise money for Special Olympics.


CMDP South Division officers Grant and Cuberworth trying to talk Cedar Posts into donating Mrs. Cedar's car for the cause.

Officer Keith Starnes duplicates the "Cop On Top" logo early Saturday morning.

A great event for a great cause. These guys get top honors for their efforts and the smiles they help create.

Kenan The Bear, Kevin Siers and WBTV's Epic WSOC Like Fail

I've decided to follow up on this story that has received a lot of air time. I want to highlight the work of Kevin Siers which is priceless as is the story posted on the WBTV web site this morning.

A number of things interest me about the bear story.

First WBT's Tara tweeted that she was pulling for "The Bear" frankly so was I.

I've decided to name the bear Kenan since he/she was first spotted over at Kenan Transport on Wednesday. The Bear as with all bears needed a name.

Second the errors in the story written by "Producer" Becky Gulden made me wonder if she is single and blond.

And last I have the passion for wildlife, and I am always amazed how much thrives in our urban areas. I'd also really like to understand why a bear, somewhat common in our western counties, made the trek to Charlotte. I'm suspecting there is something amiss besides Ms. Becky's literary skills.

First the WBTV report:

Bear Hit and Killed on I-77 in Charlotte

By Becky Gulden, Producer

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The North Carolina Highway Patrol has confirmed that a bear was hit and killed by a car on I-77 in north Charlotte late Thursday night.

The collision occurred around 11 p.m. near Highway 16.

According to the highway patrol, the bear was killed after running onto the interstate into the path of a car.

The people were inside the car at the time, but they were not hurt.

However, the impact with the bear caused significant damage to the car, the highway patrol said.
A trooper told WBTV the bear was approximately 200-300 pounds. They were unable to tell if it was the same bear spotted in northwest Charlotte on the property of the Kenan Transport Company early Wednesday morning. (Read related story about the bear citing on Wednesday.)
Copyright 2011 WBTV. All rights reserved.

So if anyone has an answer to any of the above please let me know. Bonus points for a photo of either "Kenan the Bear" or "Becky"

No reply from WBTV's Becky as of 6:30PM.

Jerr Orr's Amazing Airport Expansion Plans

A new taller control (nearly twice as high at 275 Ft) tower for Charlotte Douglas International Airport might give Charlotte and North Carolina new bragging rights, but is it really necessary?


The World's Tallest Control Tower at Suvarnabhumi
Airport aka Bangkok International (434 Ft.)

It is if you plan on adding another runway. Yep, that's right kidos, Jerry Orr has plans for yet another 9,000 foot runway, the airport's 5th, to bring even more air traffic to the skies over Charlotte.

According to Jack Christine CDIA Planning and Development Manager: "Secretary LaHood was here a month ago and told everyone that Jerry was going to get "his" tower.

It seems the current tower's location and short height prevents air traffic controllers from seeing the ends of the new 18L/36R runway. The line of sight is blocked by trees that are in the process of being cut down and aircraft waiting on the taxiway to access the new runway are blocked, visually, by arriving aircraft, making it difficult for the controllers to see the departing aircraft. According to Christine the FAA currently handles this issue with the use of technology.

Christine says, in a best case scenario, what is needed is a tower to be tall enough so that the controllers can see the aircraft on all the runways at all times. This is the main reason there is a need for a new tower now.

The location CDIA has identified for the new tower is on the south side of the airport, by the US Airways maintenance hangar and crew training facility. The new tower is expected to be nearly 275 feet tall and construction could begin as early as 2012.

Once the tower construction is underway, Orr is reportedly planning for a 4th parallel runway to be located between the new runway 18R/36L and the current 18C/36C.

So who will foot the bill for the new slab of concrete?

According to CDIA spokesperson Christine the FAA will pay the full cost. 18L 36R was completed in 2010 at a cost of $325 million, with the federal government paying $124 million and the rest funded by airport bonds and paid back by a $3 fee added to the cost of your airline ticket.

While the new massive tower might be good news the plans for yet another runway, which will again increase air traffic can't be good news for Charlotte's west side residents and those in the Lake Norman, Lake Wylie flight path areas.

Cedar's Take: I can't imagine spending thousands of dollars on a home expecting to enjoy the peace and quiet of waterfront living only to be bombarded by low flying A310 and 767 aircraft every 3 minutes. Why does Charlotte want to become the world's busiest airport? I'm sure it creates some jobs but the at what price to the quality of life along the Catawba River?

Update May 20, 2011: Believe it or not CP doesn't make stuff up. The plans for a 5th runway were mentioned again during the April 7th CDIA Advisory Meeting which can be read here.

Classic Cop vs Bad Guy with an Epic Payback.

Summerville Police aren't known for aggressive tactics or training. They often call on Charleston and Dorchester county police or SCHP resources to conduct high speed pursuits. But I imagine it was a pretty big surprise when Dorchester County officers were asked to chase a Summerville Police car.

As you will see in the video there was ample time to take the subject down before he took the car and endangered more than two dozen lives.

According to the Charleston Post and Courier, at about 1:20 p.m., officers responded to the Walmart on North Main Street in Summerville for a shoplifter who had assaulted an employee, police Capt. Jon Rogers said. Thompson tried to walk out with a computer in a shopping cart, Rogers said. When a store employee confronted Thompson, he assaulted the employee and took off, leaving the computer behind, Rogers said.

A description of Thompson's vehicle was broadcast over the police radio, and an officer spotted it and pulled it over on Cedar Street near 9th Avenue, Rogers said. Thompson got out of his vehicle, assaulted the officer, then climbed into the officer's marked patrol car and sped away.

With other police cars in pursuit, Thompson got about three miles away from the traffic stop, Rogers said.

He tried to pass a landscaping truck on North Maple Street near Elks Lodge Lane. The truck was trying to make a left turn. The squad car struck the truck and then rammed a fence, said S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Bob Beres. The area was a "no passing" zone, indicated by a double-yellow line on the highway.

The driver of the landscaping truck and a passenger were taken to Summerville Medical Center, where they were treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Thompson was transported to Medical University Hospital, Rogers said. A hospital spokeswoman said the hospital had no information about Thompson.

Neither the police officer nor the Walmart employee had serious injuries in the assaults, Rogers said.

Rogers said Thompson is being charged with strong-arm robbery in connection with the shoplifting incident. "Once the employee was assaulted, it rose from shoplifting to strong-arm robbery," Rogers said.

Thompson also is being charged with assault on a police officer while resisting arrest, grand larceny, failure to stop for blue lights and siren, and felony possession of a firearm. The weapons charge stems from there having been a police weapon in the stolen squad car, Rogers said.

Additionally, the Highway Patrol has charged Thompson with reckless driving, Beres said.

According to a criminal background check with the State Law Enforcement Division, Thompson has a seven-page rap sheet that starts with a burglary conviction in 1993. He was sent to prison then and has been in and out of prison several times since. His record also includes convictions for armed robbery, assault on police officers, shoplifting and resisting arrest.

Thompson was last sent to prison in March 2010 after getting a five-year concurrent sentence for two counts of assault on a police officer, one count of purse snatching, and one count of strong-arm robbery.

His early release included time he'd spent awaiting trial since his arrest in August 2008.

According to a Web search of the state's Victim Information Network, Thompson was released from prison May 1.

With Osama Bin Laden Dead What Can Obama Do For An Encore?

I'm waiting for someone to suggest that the "hit" on Osama bin Laden was nothing more that political theater.

I may be waiting a good while, as the mainstream media is still reveling in the NAVY Seal Team "6" name that Disney has apparently trademarked.

The euphoria that the media stirred up over the death of Osama bin Laden is epic, but if you notice no one else is all that excited, except maybe the Chinese who have already dissected the tail section of our country's 60 million dollar "stealth" helicopter.

But look closely at what is happening, in the Mid-East, there are no pro Al Quadea demonstrations, there are pro-democracy demonstrations, something the Obama administration is missing. They have totally over looked what is happening in Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. We are suddenly the idle minded parent watching two neighbor kids beat each other to death, too lazy to get off the porch or call the police.

Obama may have gotten Osama but he is missing out on an Arab grass roots pro democracy movement. While we are spending billions on countries with leaders who don't want democracy we are fumbling the ball in Egypt and elsewhere.

Please Mr. President we don't expect you to spike the football but for God's sake PICK IT UP!

As far back as 2009 Egypt's citizens have made clear their voice, yet Obama seemed to be totally caught off guard when sudden applause broke out during his 2009 speech simply at the mention of democracy.



Mr. President they were applauding because they believed you were bringing a message of freedom. Yet you looked totally surprised when the applause begins.

The Arab Spring is President Obama's chance to led these nations to freedom, but the chance for a Reagan "tear down this wall" moment is slipping away.

It would be a shame that Obama's finest moment is the execution of an unarmed, former jihadist now crippled by kidney failure, a hermit pervert addicted to porn, that took two bullets to the chest and head without a fight.

Updated Cedar Says: Thanks for the Duke Nod, MA/USC though Duke has a good program.

Annual CMPD Awards Ceremony

Tomorrow Wednesday, May 18, 2011, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will host the Annual CMPD Awards Ceremony to commemorate Police Week.

More than 260 awards will be distributed at this year’s ceremony.

Recipients include CMPD officers and civilian employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Several members of the community will also be recognized for their willingness to get involved and assist in improving the quality of life in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

Please join us in honoring these recipients tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Police Training Academy located at 1770 Shopton Road.

Bravo Zulu to all those honored.

East Charlotte Homicide City's 12th

CMPD Eastway Division Officers where working overnight to sort out the details of a shooting that took place around 7:30 last night at an East Charlotte apartment complex.

News reports suggest two men had a short altercation in an apartment parking lot located just off of Wembly Drive. During the altercation one man pulled a hand gun and shot the other once in the chest. The shooter was last seen leaving the area in a white car.

The wounded man was declared dead at the scene by medics.

The area, generally between Central and Briarcreek is predominately lower income apartments and duplexes. The warren of apartments, cut troughs, connecting sidewalks and parking lots has become a haven for drug dealers and thieves despite property owners many attempts at revitalizing the area.

WBTV reported during their 11 o'clock news only vague details noting that CMPD investigators spent several hours interviewing witnesses with a number of people taken to police headquarters for additional questioning.

Police have few facts to go on, since despite dozens of people wandering around the area, no one saw anything.

Google Map view of the area is here.

UPDATE Tuesday May 17, 2011

Homicide detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are attempting to identify the subject pictured in the below photo. The subject is believed to be driving the white Volvo below at well.





This subject is wanted for questioning with regards to the homicide that occurred on May 15, 2011, at 1433 Wembley Dr.

Anyone with information as to the identity or whereabouts of this subject and vehicle is asked to call the Tip Line at 704-432-TIPS (8477) or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Detective Abbott is the lead detective on this case.

Further Update Tuesday May 17, 2011 The victim’s family has been notified in this case. He has been identified as 30 year old Miguel Angel Audon’ Corado.

Mecklenburg County Peace Officer's Memorial Service to be held Tuesday May 17, 2011

Please join us in honoring Mecklenburg County’s fallen officers during a special memorial service.

Officer Fred A. Thornton 2.25.2011
Officer Sean Clark 4.1.2007
Officer Jeff Shelton 4.1.2007
Sergeant Scott Futrell 7.17.2002
Captain Anthony Stancil 9.29.1998
Officer Mark A. Swaney 12.25.1997
Officer Jackie Daniel 7.28.1994
Officer John Burnette 10.5.1993
Officer Andy Nobles 10.5.1993
Officer Eugene A. Griffin 11.22.1991
Officer M. Terry Lyles 8.6.1990
Officer Robert L. Smith 1.15.1987
Officer Timothy W. Whittington 7.16.1985
Deputy Sheriff Edmund V. Thomas, Jr. 5.21.1982
Officer Ernest Coleman 7.1.1982
Officer Edmond N. Cannon 11.23.1981
Special Agent Gregory W. Spinelli 3.15.1973
Officer Ronnie E. McGraw 10.18.1970
Sergeant Lewis E. Robinson 5.4.1970
Officer Johnny Reed Annas 5.21.1960
Officer C.H. Baker 4.12.1941
Chief John Albert Rape 1.1.1938
Officer Rufus L. Biggers 2.12.1937
Officer Charles P. Nichols 4.17.1936
Officer Benjamin H. Frye 6.9.1930
Officer Thomas H. Jenkins 10.21.1929
Officer Stephen S. Rogers 8.30.1929
Officer H. Edgar Correll 1.22.1929
Officer Robert M. Reid 1.1.1927
Detective John Byers 9.30.1926
Chief of Detectives Joe Orr 9.29.1
Officer John Fesperman 2.16.1924
Special Officer J. Robert Estridge 3.29.1913
Officer Sampson E. Cole 1.1.1905
Officer James H. Brown 8.2.1904
Officer James Moran 4.4.1892

Tuesday, May 17, 2011
10:30 AM
Remembrance Ceremony
600 East Trade Street
Procession to First Baptist Church, 301 South Davidson Street

Special thank you for supplying the complete list goes to CMPD Captain Freda G. Lester

University City Division
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
8401-120 University Executive Park Drive
Charlotte, NC 28262

cc: George Dunlap

BMW Broadsides Chevy at SouthPark in Early Morning Crash

Hard to say what would cause two cars to collide in a violent accident on a deserted street just before six am Sunday morning. But the force of the accident caused the Chevy to flip and one of the occupants to be extracted from the car by Charlotte Fire Department rescue squad.



The 2010 BMW didn't fair much better, both autos were deemed a total loss.

The wreckage covered the better part of SouthPark's main intersection of Fairview and Sharon Roads for at least two hours, while police and fire officials cleaned up the mess and investigated the carnage.

News Channel 14 is reporting that all four people were taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries.



However the CMPD cutie on the scene that CP spoke with stated that while the victims we all transported that their injuries appeared to be non-life threatening.

The officer did not have the names of the drivers but she did say that neither driver is suspected of driving while impaired.

News Channel 14 is reporting that it was a head on collision, their report and video is here.

County Commissioner George Dunlap Forgets the Names of Fallen CMPD Officers

Mecklenburg County Commissioner and "retired" CMPD officer George Dunlap has a short memory. In a widely circulated email Dunlap asks where to find the names of CMPD officers killed in the line of duty.

Commissioner, all you have to do is look at the wall at CMPD's training academy. As a "retired" CMPD officer you could also look at the back of the memorial badge you obviously didn't bother to purchase. You could ask a CMPD officer to look at the back of his/her badge or just visit the CMPD web site, which is here.

Commissioner Dunlap's email:

From: George Dunlap
To: bshowie
Sent: Wed, May 11, 2011 6:59 pm
Subject: RE: Police Week and BBQ

Sally, would you please send this message out. I would be very much appreciative. Additionally, If you know how to contact the families of the deceased officers or know who can, I would appreciate you letting me know. Thanks!

On Tuesday, The County Commission will adopt a proclamation in support of National Police and the sacrifice made by our deceased officers. You are all invited to attend. Additionally, I would like to recognize the families of deceased officers who lost their life in the line of duty. If any of you are in contact with the families, please extend to them this invitation to attend the County Commission meeting at 6:00 pm, in the Government chamber, on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, for this recognition.

Additionally, I would like to read the names of the deceased officers at that time. If any of you have that information or know how it can be obtained, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

George Dunlap
County Commission
District 3
Retired CMPD, 2005

The "complete" list of Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers killed in the line of duty:

Police Officer Fred Thornton
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: Friday, February 25, 2011
Cause of Death: Explosion

Police Officer Sean Clark
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: Sunday, April 1, 2007
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Jeff Shelton
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: Sunday, April 1, 2007
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Anthony Scott Futrell
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident

Police Officer Anthony A. Nobles
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: Tuesday, October 5, 1993
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer John Thomas Burnette
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: Tuesday, October 5, 1993
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrol Officer Eugene A. Griffin
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Friday, November 22, 1991
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Milus Terry Lyles
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Monday, August 6, 1990
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Robert Louis Smith
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Thursday, January 15, 1987
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrol Officer Timothy Wayne Whittington,
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Tuesday, July 16, 1985
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrol Officer Ernest Coleman,
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Thursday, July 1, 1982
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrol Officer Edmond N. Cannon
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Monday, November 23, 1981
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Ronnie E. McGraw
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: October 17, 1970
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Lewis Edward Robinson, Sr.
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: May 4, 1970
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Johnny Reed Annas
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Saturday, May 21, 1960
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Detective Charlie Herbert Baker,
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Saturday, April 12, 1941
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Officer Rufus Biggers
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: February 12, 1937
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Officer Charles P. Nichols
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Friday, April 17, 1936
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Patrol Officer Benjamin H. Frye,
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Monday, June 9, 1930
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Detective Thomas H. Jenkins,
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Monday, October 21, 1929
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer William S. Rogers
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: August 30, 1929
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Detective Harvey Edgar Correll
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Tuesday, January 22, 1929
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrol Officer Robert M. Reid,
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Saturday, January 1, 1927
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Detective John North Byers (Not on offical CMPD list)
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Thursday, September 30, 1926
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Chief of Detectives Joseph Eckels Orr (Not on offical CMPD list)
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Wednesday, September 29, 1926
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Officer John Franklin Fesperman
Charlotte Police Department, NC
Saturday, February 16, 1924,
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer John Robert Estridge (Not on offical CMPD list)
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Saturday, March 29, 1913
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer James H. Brown (Not on offical CMPD list)
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Tuesday, August 2, 1904
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Patrol Officer James Moran
Charlotte Police Department, NC
EOW: Monday, April 4, 1892
Cause of Death: Gunfire

WSOC TV's Epic Fail Using Twitter

The folks at WSOC, including reporter Natalie Pasquarella and producer Shelley Lynch are offended that I've called them out on their over use of twitter to run news teases leading up to their nightly news broadcasts.


Natalie Pasquarella

They are not the only television station that does this, but they do it so often that it reaches the level of being nothing more than SPAM.

To quote one rising television anchor at a competing station "I think "Tweasers" are stupid for hard, breaking news. Unless it's a fluffy or you seriously have something exclusive, leave off twitter".

Cedar Posts couldn't agree more.

Another anchor pointed out the it's May and ratings are the goal. I suspect he's right but have they thought it through?

Let's do the numbers; NatalieNews aka Natalie Pasquarella has slightly more than 2000 followers, Blair Miller has about 1/2 that many, Shelley Lynch 301 and Eric Bryant has about 70. Assume that those who follow Parquarella also follow Lynch, Bryant and Miller as I do, so at most WSOC has about 2000 followers. The majority are fellow news people or bloggers like myself. Half of those who follow Pasquarella are stalkers, she just hasn't figured this out yet. So in the real world WSOC has just under 500 real and unique followers who might if given the chance grab the remote and flip the channels til they pull up on WSOC.

I said might but its highly doubtful.

But given the effort to produce a tweet a minute it's not cost effective to use Twitter in this manner. Honestly who has a twitter account, and sits in front of their tv for 30 minutes at 11 o'clock? Anyone? Hello? As I suspected crickets, or lately cicadas.

No one is reading WSOC's tweets. They generate no revenue and its annoying that they keep saying the same garbarge over and over again.

Since I've been calling WSOC out for spamming the twitterverse, I've been unfollowed by Natalie Pasquarella and Sherry Lynch, but they have learned to "delete" their repetitive tweets.

At one point tonight WSOC was popping up on my blackberry about once every 3 minutes with nothing more than a plea to watch their story on Rev Billy Graham being hospitalized.

Below is a sample of the "NEWS" they tweeted over 40 minutes.

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
Mel Graham says his uncle, Rev. Billy Graham, is in "great spirits" & improving. He said Billy thanks everyone in #Charlotte 4 their prayers
40 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
Want to hear latest on Rev. Graham? Tune in at 11 on Channel 9 with @BlairMiller9 - He'll have a live interview w/Graham family on @WSOC_TV
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
by shelleyclynch
We'll do live interview with Graham family to get an update at 10 on #waxn with @natalienews & then w/ me & @ericabryant9 at 11 on #wsoc
6 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
RT @EricaBryant9: Coming up in 30 mins, a LIVE interview w/Rev Billy Graham's nephew on Eyewitness News as the evangelist battles pneumonia
8 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

NatalieNews Natalie Pasquarella
I spoke to Mel Graham, Rev Graham's nephew...He says the reverend is improving, watching TV & they expect him to be in hospital 2 to 3 days
11 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

EricaBryant9 Erica Bryant
Coming up in 30 minutes,a LIVE interview with Reverend Billy Graham's nephew on Eyewitness News at 11 as the evangelist battles pneumonia.
18 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

TenikkaWSOC9 Tenikka Smith
Meanwhile, hundreds have posted well wishes on Rev. Billy Graham's facebook page.
18 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
Family expects Graham to be in the hospital for two to three days
20 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

TenikkaWSOC9 Tenikka Smith
Rev. Graham's nephew Mel told us minutes ago - he's responding well to antibiotics. He was appreciative of support and asked for prayers.
21 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
Nephew of Rev Graham says Billy is "improving" in the hospital tonight... watching TV and visiting with family. Tonight at 10 & 11
22 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
Mel Graham just spoke with Billy Graham in the hospital.. he'll share how he's doing.. on the 10 o'clock news on TV 64 #waxn
26 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

TenikkaWSOC9 Tenikka Smith
The latest on Rev. Billy Graham who is being treated at Asheville, NC hospital - plus how the public is showing support. Tonight at 10 & 11
40 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply »

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
We'll do live interview with Graham family to get an update at 10 on #waxn with @natalienews & then w/ me & @ericabryant9 at 11 on #wsoc
41 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

BlairMiller9 Blair Miller
just spoke w/ Mel Graham (nephew Rev Graham) says hosp aggressively treating for pneumonia & they "don't considered it life threatening"
44 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

A little too much, over kill? Don't agree?

Let me know I'm ready to roll on this one.

Cedar's Take: There are too many good news people out there who provide news and information in an extremely timely manner. WSOC is an embarrassment to those who work in the business and take their jobs to a much higher standard.

2000 Mercedes Benz E320 Burns on I-26 Just South of Columbia Near Sandy Ridge

When Cedar Posts pulled up behind the smoking black Mercedes, there might have been hope. But without a pretty good sized fire extinguisher there was little to do make sure both the driver and his passenger were out of the car.



It didn't take long for the benz to get really cooking.

As with most volunteer units two of the firemen arrived in their personal vehicles. One even put on his "turn-out" gear and helmet but without a truck or no fire extinguishers there was little they could do.



Amazingly it took the Sandy Ridge Volunteer Fire Department engine company nearly 20 minutes to arrive on scene and only about 30 seconds to hose down the shell of what was just minutes before a 60k luxury automobile.

NLRB v. Boeing's New 787 Dreamliner Plant in Charleston Where is North Carolina's Governor?

After years of planning and nearly two years of construction, the Obama administration's National Labor Relations Board filed suit against Boeing's $2 billion plant 787 dream liner plant in Charleston.

The NLRB which is dominated by President Obama’s appointees is simply playing a first hand in the run up to November 2012.

But South Carolina's Republican Governor Nikki Haley as well a 19 Republican senators say the the April 20 NLRB suit, which calls for Boeing to bring the jobs planned for South Carolina back to Washington state is nothing more than a stunt to build support from the President's unhappy labor union voters.

North Carolina Democratic Governor Beverly Perdue is staying out of the fight saying its not about North Carolina. Well guess again madam Governor.

Boeing obviously brings millions to the Charleston and South Carolina economy, but the financial inflow also finds its way to Charlotte as well as other parts of the North State. ie Carolina Panthers and tourist destinations like Hendersonville, Asheville and Boone.

But it doesn't end with just a general economic impact, specifically North Carolina companies will also benefit from the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner plant, companies like Kidde Technologies (Fire Suppression) in Wilson, NC. Michelin Aircraft Tire in Norwood, NC a place hard hit by the death of the textiles industry and the manufactured housing (mobile home) slump, Curtis Wright Flight Systems in Gastonia, and BE Aerospace in Winston Salem, NC. All told there is a total of more than 220 supporting businesses and $200 million in annual expenditures at risk.

So what troubles me is that North Carolina's democratic Governor is keeping mum about the entire NLRB suit? Cedar Posts doesn't have a clue, we contacted both Chrissy Pearson, Communications Director and Ben Niolet, Director of New Media and got nothing but crickets.

So I think that North Carolina's Governor Perdue needs to make the trip to Washington along with Governor Haley. There is more on the line than just South Carolina jobs.

Boeing PR Piece illustrating Boeing's impact on North Carolina is here

Tuesday's Odds and Ends

Confederate Memorial Day - is today and as you might imagine there are plenty voices none too happy about it.

According to the Charleston Post and Courier: Commemorating the soldiers who died defending the Stars and Bars will cost South Carolina taxpayers about $10 million.

That's because Confederate Memorial Day is one of 13 paid holidays for South Carolina's 60,000 employees.


Lenior County, Woodington, N.C. Confederate Memorial Day celebration at Woodington Universalist Church, 1920.

During a challenging budget year that has seen a host of public service cuts, at least one critic called the holiday a waste of public money that would be better used on education, health care or job creation.

"Our taxpayer money is funding a holiday for our oppressors' descendants," said Dot Scott, president of the Charleston chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "It's gotta go."

Gov. Nikki Haley, who has made it her administration's mission to root out government waste, disagreed.

"Reopening this debate (will) be a distraction that will not create one job or educate one child," Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey said in a statement.

South Carolina is one of four states in the South to celebrate Confederate Memorial Day in honor of Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War. The others are Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, which all celebrate on April 25.

Cedar's Take: Well that is just a little incorrect. There are actually 15 states that reconize the day, including North Carolina. The list here.

The Post and Courier story is here, and prior Cedar Post's take on the holiday is here.

Woka Flocka Flame Shooters Get a Free Pass from DA Murray - Mecklenburg District Attorney Andrew Murray dismissed charges against six men arrested after a midday shootout with rapper Waka Flocka Flame's security team back in January.

Get a look a who DA Murray just turned loose on Charlotte's streets here.

The rapper's publicist said the shooting started after several men tried to rob Waka Flocka Flame of his jewelry.

Murray says prosecutors have little to go on, because none of the witnesses identified who was responsible for the shooting. They also said there was no evidence of an attempted robbery.

"We didn't have enough evidence to prosecute any of them," Andrew Murray is quoted as saying. "The defendants are still in custody. That's why we need to dismiss the charges now.

The "Local Paper's" rehash of the events is here.

Cedar's Take: Something is just not right here. First of all why would the Rapper drive a tour bus all the way to Charlotte to do a little "up grade" of a sound system? Second who are the members of Flame's security team. What is their connection if any to Georgia law enforcement? Or was there a Charlotte connection? Was the entire escapade staged? Jeff Taylor's Meck Deck has more from back in February and it's here.

County Manager Harry Jones Run Out Of Birmingham - Word is that Harry Jones dropped out of the Birmingham job search after questions began popping up in earnest about Charlotte' CRVA. While over at the CRVA there is talk of a ever widening scandal.

Yet Charlotte's Mayor Foxx says it's all blown out of proportion.

Middle School Kid Gives Bus Driver Guns - The "Local Paper" is reporting, if you can call is reporting, that a Northeast Middle School student getting off the school bus today handed the driver two guns, at least one of them loaded, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials say.

CMS sent this statement shortly after 6 p.m.: "A bus driving home from Northeast Middle School reached its stop at Reedy Creek Road and Harrisburg Road. Upon exiting the bus, a student handed two guns to the bus driver. CMPD has confirmed the guns are real and at least one of them is loaded. They are currently investigating the incident and talking with the student. CMS Police are on their way to the scene and will provide an update."

Further details are not available yet.



I'm not sure why the "Local Paper" didn't get the CMPD email below:

From CMPD:

On Monday, May 09, 2011, at approximately 4:58 p.m., CMPD received a call regarding a school bus driver who had received two guns from students on his bus(1341).

Officers responded to the 7600 block of Reedy Creek Rd where the bus driver had stopped.

Officers learned that a student approached the bus driver at the student’s bus stop displaying a handgun and demanded the driver to drive him to another destination. The bus driver talked the suspect into giving him the handgun. The suspect gave the driver the handgun and exited the school bus. After the suspect exited the bus, another student approached the driver and informed him that the suspect had given him a handgun and had asked him to assist him with the incident. The student, who was fearful, took the weapon from the suspect but did not assist him.

Officers and detectives located the suspect and arrested him. Detectives charged the suspect with 8 counts of kidnapping and 2 counts of possession of a weapon on school ground. The suspect will be transported to the regional juvenile detention center.

The school bus came from Northeast Middle School. There were seven students, the bus driver, and the suspect on the bus when the incident occurred.

(Major Props and a hat tip to Kelly over at Crime in Charlotte blog for giving Cedar Posts the heads up.)

Rescue Me

I'm going to miss "Rescue Me" after this last season ends, super good show. Pearl Jam is perfect for this clip.

10 things I've learned that I wish I knew way back before I deployed

This is from a Marine Officer who goes by the name Lt. Devil Dog. While his ten points are all about the Corps and the nomenclature is full metal jacket (aka military) the basic principals apply to the corporate world as well making it a worth while read for anyone fresh out of college and new to the corporate world or civil service. It might even apply to some at CMPD, who feel like they are banging their heads against a wall.

1) If you haven't read the IRAM, PES, JAG, or Awards Manual, then read them. If you have read them once, then reread them. Your job entails a lot more than running Range 410 Alpha with your platoon. Your Marines will do both truly great things and some incredibly stupid things. It is important to hold them accountable, and the way you do that is through paperwork, both good and bad. Being in the office and doing paperwork isn't the sexy or "high-speed" part of being an infantry officer, but it is more important that you might realize at the moment. Embrace the paperwork. You owe it to your Marines to be on top of your game.

2) The skills and tactics you learned at IOC are, like anything else, perishable. You could find yourself doing anything at your first duty assignment, from rifle platoon commander to working in the S-3 shop. After TBS and IOC your ability to LBS a PEQ-16 or call in a 9-line may slip by the wayside after a few months without practice. Don't hesitate to turn back to the technical and field manuals, as well as Marine Corps and joint doctrinal publications. They are your bread and butter. Read the pubs and manuals and discuss them with your peers and SNCOs so you can speak confidently and intelligently about your weapons, optics, and gear, as well as Marine Corps doctrine. How much time you put into doing your homework will show.

3) Listen to your XO. Coming out of IOC you have the most up-to-date infantry tactics the Marine Corps has to offer, but your XO has been around for a while. Regardless of whether you like him or not, he is the guy who facilitates training and can be one of your best resources in the battalion. The XO is also someone to bounce ideas off of before you turn to your company commander. From FITREPS to letters of instruction (LOIs), your XO has probably written plenty of them and can offer sound guidance and advice. Even if the logistics officer is a fellow lieutenant, don't run straight to him for the seven-ton you need for training. You'll be going behind your XO's back. Use your XO. He could become your best ally, and you might be in his billet next.

4) With that being said, learn to write LOIs, and don't rely solely on your XO to put all your training together. You probably have a million ideas with what you want to do with your platoon. Great. Do your homework, bounce some ideas off your peers, and then put your thoughts to writing in the form of a LOI. How well thought out and how much effort is put into a LOI can make or break a training evolution. Crap LOIs usually result in crap training. If you're requesting two boxes of chem-lights, you must put real thought into why you need that many. When you do a confirmation brief in front of the battalion commander he is going to get into the weeds, so be prepared. Do your homework and know what you're talking about. Before you propose some high-speed, badass training evolution, make sure your Marines and platoon can effectively accomplish their T&R individual and collective events. Crawl, walk, run. Understand and embrace the systems approach to training. It works.

5) Don't reinvent the wheel if you don't have to. There are a million LOIs out there that could be perfectly applicable for the training that you want to accomplish, but don't just blindly turn in someone else's work. I've seen battalion LOIs with other battalion's letterheads and even dates that weren't changed. What do you think officers and SNCOs who read those LOIs thought about the effort that was put into the training evolution? With everything, do the prior preparation, planning, and homework so when you brief higher you earn their trust and confidence. When writing, either orders or LOIs, always remember that words mean things. This point was beat home at IOC, but make sure you remember it in the fleet. Stick to tactical tasks, and make sure you fully understand what the definition is of those tactical tasks. For fires understand EFSTs. Don't say, "destroy" if in actuality the desired effect should be "neutralize." Can 60mm mortars actually "destroy" a T-72? Know the difference. All this sounds obvious, but there is no quicker way to sound like a jackass in front of your company commander or the battalion commander than using a word in the wrong context. Be clear, concise, and to the point in your writing. Proofread, rehearse orders and briefs, and bounce your ideas off your peers. Oftentimes you only have one opportunity to make a favorable first impression.

6) If you find yourself checking in as the Weapons Platoon commander and the FiST leader a) be humble, b) do your homework, and c) let your CO and Weapons Company CO mentor you. You have a lot to learn. IOC is an incredible institution, but as good as you may think you are at nonstandard SEAD after a week of practice, your job as the FiST leader is much more challenging than you think. In reality, you have two bosses in your CO and the Fire Support Coordinator, and don't forget the FAC that will be pissed at you because your air just went bingo because you couldn't get your shit together. Assemble your FiST team and get to work. There is a huge amount of responsibility in this billet, and if you find yourself on a combat deployment, depending on your battalion, you could be a mini-FSCC clearing fires for your company. Learn and understand your communication nets, pick your FAC or JTACs brains, hit the fire support pubs, and practice, practice, practice. You're a second lieutenant in the senior platoon commander's billet, and the learning curve is steep. You don't have time to wait around for CAX or EMV to get your FiST team on the same page. There are a lot of great AARs that discuss the role and employment of the FiST leader and FiST team. Read, reflect, and study from them.

7) More than likely, you're never going to have as much ammo as you did at IOC. It just isn't going to happen. However, that doesn't mean you should sit around and complain because no one cares. Just because you don't have ammo doesn't mean you cannot conduct solid training. Just like it was beaten into you at IOC, you have you be creative, work some deals, but ultimately plan tough, realistic, and standards-based training. Worry about what you can control at the platoon and squad level. There is no need to beat a dead horse here, but there is plenty of training you can accomplish without live-rounds so that when given the opportunity to run ranges your Marines are set up for success. Reread points 3, 4, and 5.

8) Don't expend all your energy on company- or battalion-level decisions because 9.9 times out of 10 you can't control them and have little or no influence upon decisions at that level. What you can control though is your platoon and how prepared they are. If you worry too much about the big blue arrows or how jacked up one of the shops is, then you'll never accomplish anything. Concentrate down and not up. Serve as a buffer between your Marines and the company/battalion. Train, teach, and mentor your Marines, and you will find success as a platoon commander. It is not about you.

9) Remember that there is more to being an infantry officer than just tactics, training, and administrative work. The emotional health and well-being of the platoon are not inclusively issues for the platoon sergeant to handle, but issues that fall on your shoulders as well. For many of your Marines, boot camp may have been the first time they were away from home. Being away from home, adding in the stress of a marriage or relationship that may not be the most stable in the world, can create serious issues. For many Marines they have never had anyone to truly look up to. It is important that you are that figure and mentor. Does that mean you should listen to every qualm a Marine has with his girlfriend? Probably not, but you need to get to know your Marines. Talk to their team and squad leaders and the platoon sergeant, and find out what issues there might be on the home front. Find out who has a family, girlfriend, or fiancée. These aren't things that you should just let the FRO and platoon sergeant worry about. Showing genuine concern means something. Work ups and deployments are tough on relationships with family, loved ones, and friends. Even if you have a yearlong work up between Bridgeport, Coronado, Fort Pickett, and EMV, the Marines are going to spend a lot of time away from home. Though it is easy to forget, being an infantry officer is more than just tactics and putting rounds down range.

10) Have fun. You're probably going to have more fun as a platoon commander than you will any other billet. If you're fortunate you might get another opportunity, but for most of us, there is only one opportunity to serve as a platoon commander. It is easy to get sucked into the office, but get out and spend time with your Marines. You will probably never again have an opportunity to have such an immediate impact on the lives of young Marines as you will as a platoon commander. You're going to want to pull out what little hair you have on most days, but don't get caught up in what is wrong with your company, battalion, etc. To reiterate, concentrate down and not up. Teach your Marines something new every day, make them better Marines AND better citizens, and remember to be humble and to have some fun in the process.

Looney Tunes Nurse Gets Away With Murder

In a story worthy of a one hour Date Line investigative report, Sandra Joyner an attractive successful 45 year old woman, is murdered by a former high school classmate Sally Jordan Hill, whose life over the preceding years had gone in the opposite direction, that of crazy frumpy troll.


Sandra Joyner three months before her death

Hill was charged in 2006 with first-degree murder in the April 2001 death of Sandra Joyner. Joyner had been a patient in Charlotte Dr. Peter Tucker's plastic surgery office where Hill worked.

Hill and Joyner were classmates at Olympic High School in the 1970s. It has been suggested that a grudge had been festering for years, and co-workers told police they overheard Hill say Joyner had stolen her boyfriend.

On Friday more than ten years after Joyner's death, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray told reporters he was troubled by Hill's actions, but said there was no credible evidence that showed any rivalry or animosity between the two women that would cause Hill to kill so many years later.

Hill's attorneys have said Joyner's death was an unintentional medical accident.

"There is no evidence that Miss Hill Jordan knowingly, deliberately selected this person and killed her," Hill's attorney, Jean Lawson, said in court. "The suggestion that this is a product of a 30-year grudge is outrageous."

Murray signed the documents dismissing the murder charge against Hill and attached a two-page explanation. He also listed "significant factors" that led to Hill's arrest.

Among those factors:

Hill administered a narcotic pain killer called fentanyl while Joyner was recovering from surgery without permission of the attending physician.

Hill then altered a drug log to conceal the amount of fentanyl she administered.

Hill turned off the victim's pulse oximeter because she stated "it was annoying." The instrument, which measures oxygen in the blood, would have alerted medical staff of Joyner's severe medical distress.

Hill did not appropriately assist in efforts to resuscitate Joyner once it was clear she was in distress.

The N.C. Medical Board found that Hill was grossly negligent in administering fentanyl without the doctor's permission, and for not alerting the doctor about a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.

In reviewing the case, Murray said prosecutors met with defense experts, including a board-certified anesthesiologist, a nurse anesthetist and a plastic surgeon, the document says. Prosecutors also discussed the case several times with the medical examiner.

The experts agreed there is always a risk with using anesthesia, and it is difficult to determine the exact reason Joyner died, Murray's explanation says.

The experts also provided alternative possible causes of death, including an adverse drug reaction and complications from intubation.

"It is the office's position that some, if not all, jurors would reasonably believe the testimony of the defense's expert witnesses, thereby making a guilty verdict impossible," the explanation says.

Prosecutors would have had trouble rebutting defense expert testimony. When Joyner's body was examined by the medical examiner, her organs already had been removed for donation. That prevented any analysis. No blood sample was initially preserved for the medical examiner's office to determine the drug levels in Joyner's system.

Murray's explanation says: "Despite the considerable circumstantial evidence that Sally Hill killed Sandra Joyner, the state does not believe that the evidence would lead a jury to unanimously find beyond a reasonable doubt that the conduct of the defendant was a proximate cause of Sandra Joyner's death."

Sandra Joyner's former husband John Joyner points out that his wife was healthy before the surgery and was "actually smiling and laughing" in the recovery room before she began having breathing problems. He said she was alone for 15 minutes with Hill, who was an experienced nurse anesthetist who did not call for help.

Cedar's Take: Watch the Channel 36 interview with Hill who has now reverted to her maiden name Jordan, watch her eyes darting around the room, and her odd facial expressions, she's guilty and crazy as all hell.

A jury would have convicted her, but perhaps its better to let her continue to suffer in that body, with a mind that can't grasp reality.

Passing of CMPD Officer "Slim" Burgess

As you might guess from his nickname Everette Collins Burgess was "Carolina" born and raised, along with a little help from the United States Marine Corps.

Slim was 81 when he passed way at his home in Maiden, North Carolina, with his family by his side on April 12, 2011.

He was born on July 31, 1929 in Rockingham County, the son of Herbert C. and Mattie Saunders Burgess.

Slim served two tours of duty with the U. S. Marine Corps and served as an officer with the Charlotte Police Department for 30 years.

Slim Burgess is well known for two things many CMPD officers today take for granted. He was one of the first three pioneering helicopter pilots when the department acquired its first helicopter the famed and original "Snoopy One" officially known as a Bell 47G-5.

The Bell 47 recognizable by its gold fish bowl cockpit and saddle bag fuel tanks also had the well known nick name of "salt shaker".



But Slim's most noteble contribution might just be the hornet's nest badge that today every CMPD officer wears, the badge he designed.



Cedar's Take:

I don't know a pilot who hasn't read at least a dozen times John Gillespie Magee, Jr's poem.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Fittingly the poem was included in Slim Burgess' service held at Mt. Anderson Baptist Church on April 15, 2011.