Charlotte City Councilman Michael Barnes criticized the Concord Police Department this week, saying officers were wrong to take part in a car chase that led to the death of an 84-woman and injuries to six others.
Two officers pursued a shoplifting suspect three miles from Concord Mills mall into Charlotte on Friday, police said. Authorities say the suspect, Demetrio Jaunt Rollins, 18, was fleeing in a Buick LeSabre when the car crossed the center line on Mallard Creek Road and crashed head-on with car driven by Docia Barber. Barber, 84, died at the scene.
During Tuesday's City Council meeting, Barnes said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police would not participate in car chase for such a minor offense. "She died over a pair of shoes," Barnes said, referring to the alleged shoplifting. "That should have never happened."
Click here to read Charlotte's policy.
It says, part: "Officers are authorized to engage and continue in a Pursuit only when they have reasonable suspicion to believe the driver or occupant has committed or is attempting to commit a crime dangerous to life, or when officers can articulate the exigent need to apprehend the suspect(s) because of the potential for harm to the public (Public Risk) if they are not apprehended. Officers must always weigh the need to apprehend the suspect(s) against the danger created by the pursuit (Pursuit Risk). The danger created by the flight of the suspect can not constitute justification for the pursuit."
Concord Police Chief Merl Hamilton has defended the two officers who chased Rollins in separate vehicles. The department is looking into whether the officers actions violated its rules.
Click here to read Concord's policy.
It includes this explanation: "When an officer attempts to execute a motor vehicle stop, there is a point in time when it becomes apparent that the violator is either going to stop or attempt to elude arrest. This point in time is defined as the point in which a reasonable person would know that he/she is being ordered to pull over through the use of the blue lights and siren. When the officer makes the determination that the suspect vehicle is not going to stop, the officer must ensure that the violator has committed a felony or is in the process of committing a felony by immediately meeting the criteria required for the charge of Felony Speeding to Elude Arrest G.S. 20-141.5 or any other felony charge.
If the felony is present, the officer must obtain permission from a supervisor to continue. If a felony does not exist or the supervisor does not give permission to continue, the officer must discontinue the pursuit by turning off all emergency equipment and reducing speed."
- Fred Clasen-Kelly
Two officers pursued a shoplifting suspect three miles from Concord Mills mall into Charlotte on Friday, police said. Authorities say the suspect, Demetrio Jaunt Rollins, 18, was fleeing in a Buick LeSabre when the car crossed the center line on Mallard Creek Road and crashed head-on with car driven by Docia Barber. Barber, 84, died at the scene.
During Tuesday's City Council meeting, Barnes said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police would not participate in car chase for such a minor offense. "She died over a pair of shoes," Barnes said, referring to the alleged shoplifting. "That should have never happened."
Click here to read Charlotte's policy.
It says, part: "Officers are authorized to engage and continue in a Pursuit only when they have reasonable suspicion to believe the driver or occupant has committed or is attempting to commit a crime dangerous to life, or when officers can articulate the exigent need to apprehend the suspect(s) because of the potential for harm to the public (Public Risk) if they are not apprehended. Officers must always weigh the need to apprehend the suspect(s) against the danger created by the pursuit (Pursuit Risk). The danger created by the flight of the suspect can not constitute justification for the pursuit."
Concord Police Chief Merl Hamilton has defended the two officers who chased Rollins in separate vehicles. The department is looking into whether the officers actions violated its rules.
Click here to read Concord's policy.
It includes this explanation: "When an officer attempts to execute a motor vehicle stop, there is a point in time when it becomes apparent that the violator is either going to stop or attempt to elude arrest. This point in time is defined as the point in which a reasonable person would know that he/she is being ordered to pull over through the use of the blue lights and siren. When the officer makes the determination that the suspect vehicle is not going to stop, the officer must ensure that the violator has committed a felony or is in the process of committing a felony by immediately meeting the criteria required for the charge of Felony Speeding to Elude Arrest G.S. 20-141.5 or any other felony charge.
If the felony is present, the officer must obtain permission from a supervisor to continue. If a felony does not exist or the supervisor does not give permission to continue, the officer must discontinue the pursuit by turning off all emergency equipment and reducing speed."
- Fred Clasen-Kelly
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56 comments:
Must be why the thief fled toward Charlotte. They know that they will be safe there. We are tired of Charlotte's crime spilling over to Cabarrus County. Charlotte Meck you need to get your own backyards cleaned up before you criticize Cabarrus Counry law enforcement.
It is quite obvious that Chief Hamilton does not have his officers practice what is written in P&P. I guess because it is not in Good To Great it dosen't matter.
The pursuing officer must constantly consider the risk created by the pursuit. The necessity of immediate apprehension must outweigh the level of danger created by the pursuit.
B.The pursuing officer should not needlessly endanger other persons. Some of the factors to be considered when determining to initiate, continue, or terminate a pursuit are:
(1)seriousness of crimes underlying the pursuit
(2)time of day
(3)volume of vehicle traffic
(4) location of pursuit
a.weather conditions
b.road conditions
c.speeds involved
d.volume of pedestrian traffic
e.likelihood of later apprehension
f.dangers if suspect is not immediately apprehended
Smile and wave boys because the Good To Great bus is about to run you over with Merle at the wheel!
There are plenty people out here committing Felonies! Why in the world would Cabarrus County Police come into Mecklenburg County over a pair of shoes? Now there is a innocent 84 year old lady deceased because Cabarrus County Police did not follow the correct procedures... They were wrong!!
WRONG!!!!!!Wrong, wrong! You are wrong sir!!!
"Now there is a innocent 84 year old lady deceased because Cabarrus County Police did not follow the correct procedures... They were wrong!!"
An Innocent 84 yearold is dead because they feld. The Criminals bear FULL responsiblity in this matter.
Police played a role but the Criminlas own the reasons and resluts.
Barnes: You have no place critiquing this situation publicly or otherwise. If Charlotte would actually DO SOMETHING about their criminal element instead of letting the punks get away with it all the time this might not have happened. The only ones wrong in this situation were the criminals.
How crazy a world we live in when the good guys are the bad guys and the bad guys are innocent. It wasn't Concord Police who are at fault. This 84 year old lady didn't die over a pair of shoes. She died because criminals don't fear the law and that is due to our justice system being slow and complacent. If you punished criminals SWIFTLY and HARSHLY there would be an 84 year old women today still living and enjoying life. Instead we have rules to let criminals go and blame the police for doing what should be a natural human right....to STOP CRIME. Glad I moved out of Charlotte to Concord :>)
You people have your minds warped or something. Yes the criminals are wrong for stealing. But do you really think the criminals would have been speeding recklessly out of control if it wasn't for the cops chasing them. The cops should have assessed the situation as stated before. Were the criminals hanging out the window shooting at people? did the criminals shoot someone at the mall? did the criminals plant a bomb or something? no. they stole some shoes.....SHOES. so after a while the cops should have backed off.
(1)seriousness of crimes underlying the pursuit (stealing shoes)
(2)time of day (middle of day)
(3)volume of vehicle traffic (heavy)
(4) location of pursuit(down a road thats has a lot of curves)
a.weather conditions(the only thing that might be on the cops side
b.road conditions(high)
c.speeds involved(high)
d.volume of pedestrian traffic(unknown)
e.likelihood of later apprehension(minor-but is shoes worth continuing the chase?)
f.dangers if suspect is not immediately apprehended(oh they might steal again. not kill but steal)
So dont blame barnes for speakin his mind. and to trhe 6:09 post; dont say that the charlotte allows people to get away so much. Because they were headed to charlotte doesn't mean they are from charlotte. I mean the crime did happen in cabarrus. so what would you do to prevent the crime from even happening? and to the 4:08 post. the criminals played a role. But the cops played the majority role by keeping it going.
"...he be a good boy. We tryin to find his daddy but noone know who his daddy is...."
the cops arent wrong for stopping the crime.(OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T STOP THE CRIME). they are wrong for not reading the situation right. and to the comment above. you moved from charlotte to concord. didnt the crime happen in concord?
How does Mr. Barnes know exactly what happened? He is Monday morning quarterbacking. If the City of Charlotte would keep all their thieves in Charlotte the crime rate in the surrounding counties would drop at least 75 %. The people there can only blame themselves for elected sorry judges and court people.
How did the officers not know that someone was being held hostage or that these people were very dangerous.If they didn't know how would Barnes know. His talking is all political.
It would have been better if the sorry person that was driving was the one that got killed. Just imagine how much it is going to cost to feed and house this sorry bas..rd.
Demetrio Rollins is fully to blame, not the police. End of story...
Try being a cop for ONE DAY folks... I cant' stand these d@mn "Monday Morning Quarterbacks." Get a grip.
The death was not "over a pair of shoes." It was over thieves running from the law.
Chief Monroe can boast about the crime stats but people on the inside at CMPD know the numbers are being arranged in a postive manner. Allow the crooks to run and they will.
God bless the family of the deceased.
Has Michael Barnes read the full Police report??? He is only assuming that the Larceny of shoes is the only reason for this pursuit. I'm hearing rumors there were other factors that also lead to this pursuit.
Also, Barnes makes it sound like we should ALLOW everyone to steal a pair of shoes. His comment comes across as him not respecting the law at all.
Barnes, You weren't there therefore you don't know. Seems to me you are just pandering for votes.
I agree with the Councilman. I live in the neighborhood adjacent to where the crash happened and it happened...there are neighborhoods ON ALL SIDES I have no idea why the police would continue the chase especially at the start of one of the busiest race/traffic weekends of the year and at a time (around 3pm) when kids were being dropped off on that very road from their schoolbuses. MANY people walk, jog and bike along that street and it is only 2 lanes. This never should have happened. I do believe the alleged thief should indeed be charged with murder since he crashed into her and took this innocent woman's life but the police must change their procedures also. Thank you for speaking out Councilman Barnes!!!
If you don't live here you don't have a clue.. Speed limit is 45 mpg, 99% of the people driving on Mallard Creek are doing 50+ mph, on a winding country road,, And where this accident occurred is on a curve with a blind spot.. Also. I was told the kid ( had 5 previous arrests in the past 2 years),, that he ran the stop light on Mallard Creek and Johnston Ohler (which is about 1/4 mile from the accident)... the direction the crook was driving, he would have come to, 2 other lights... and if he had sped thru those he would have killed several more innocent people..
Let's blame the punk that did this murder, not the police trying to catch him..
If you don't live here you don't have a clue.. Speed limit is 45 mpg, 99% of the people driving on Mallard Creek are doing 50+ mph, on a winding country road,, And where this accident occurred is on a curve with a blind spot.. Also. I was told the kid ( had 5 previous arrests in the past 2 years),, that he ran the stop light on Mallard Creek and Johnston Ohler (which is about 1/4 mile from the accident)... the direction the crook was driving, he would have come to, 2 other lights... and if he had sped thru those he would have killed several more innocent people..
Let's blame the punk that did this murder, not the police trying to catch him..
If you don't live here you don't have a clue.. Speed limit is 45 mpg, 99% of the people driving on Mallard Creek are doing 50+ mph, on a winding country road,, And where this accident occurred is on a curve with a blind spot.. Also. I was told the kid ( had 5 previous arrests in the past 2 years),, that he ran the stop light on Mallard Creek and Johnston Ohler (which is about 1/4 mile from the accident)... the direction the crook was driving, he would have come to, 2 other lights... and if he had sped thru those he would have killed several more innocent people..
Let's blame the punk that did this murder, not the police trying to catch him..
Go Concord PD!! Chase all the criminals back to the Meck DA's office where they came from.
The 84 year old woman did not "die over a pair of shoes," as Councilman Barnes stated.
She died because a worthless, no-good, career criminal who is apparently totally devoid of morals chose to commit another crime and flee to avoid capture instead of getting his lazy ass out and getting a job and contributing to society instead of being a perennial blight upon his family(though his parents must bear a large part of the blame)and his community.
There is no place in this world for trash like this scumbag.
Councilman Barnes, Read some of
Bill Cosby's comments on why the young black community is in sucha a mess. It may open your eyes.
Sounds like somebody is bitter because they got kicked off the bus.
Come on Observer, tell us where the man that killed this woman is from.
If only we had a light rail to Concord Mills!! Then the criminals could just take the train.
If the Concord Police and the city of Concord continues to allow high speed chases for property crimes - where no weapon is used, and endangering the lives of innocent citizens, they should also be prepared to pay out MILLIONS in insuing law suits.
I hate that someone got killed over this. But I cannot blame the police officers. The lesson learned by not pursuing is that I can take what I want and run, if I run they won't chase me. Seems like a free pass to me. Heck we should all just get us some goods and run, no problem, we won't get chased and will get off scott free. Our criminal justice system is broken, some single parent families have a hard time raising kids and there is little support systems for them. Our solution is to lock people up - we need to get these kids before they do stupid stuff like this. The failure and this needless death happened many years ago when the family, religious, and government support systems didn't get this kid on the right track. that would have cost all of us a lot less then processing this kid through the justice system, locking him up, and paying off a lawsuit that will certain come of this tragedy.
Wow. Its pretty funny that the city of Charlotte is giving pointers on fighting crime to Concord. Charlotte's take on crime is a joke. The thief must have known had he gotten into Charlotte nothing would have happened to him. Charlotte's policies are a joke. Hard Core Criminals receive a slap on the wrist every day and continue to live the life of a thug. Charlotte needs to do something within their city before shelling out recommendations to other cities.
Sure Councilman, nothing like this would ever happen in Char-Meck. But wait, don't I recall something about an office T-boning an innocent vehicle on Old Statesville Road in the 90mph range? Yeah, you've got the professionals!
Put the blame where it belongs - on the criminal. Police should chase and attempt to arrest EVERY criminal. It is a shame an innocent woman died, but it is the criminal's fault, not the police for pursuing him. Convict him of her death and make it the most expensive pair of shoes every stolen. Only by making the crimnials pay dearly will society reap the benefit. Being soft on crime has not worked. Michael Barnes is WRONG this time.
Barnesis spreading the usual Liberal BS, always blame something or someone besides a criminal when something goes bad. Who committed larceny? Who chose not to stop for Blue light & siren? Who wrecked into the innocent Lady? All 3 answers are THE CROOK. When police stop pursueing criminals you create a more dangerous environment as chases will increase in Number as majority of crooks will run.
Barnes and the other "no-chase" advocates are simply wrong, wrong, WRONG! Those that break the law - and this "shoplifter-turned-killer" had 5 prior criminal arrests - need to be stopped before their acts escalate. This terrible tragedy is simply crystal-clear proof of that.
And, had the courts done THEIR job and tucked this kid away in jail for some lengthy time after 5 prior chances, this poor woman would still be alive.
The simple fact-of-life remains: The police are sworn to catch criminals. The courts are supposed to punish them. This kid barely got a slap on the wrist the first 5 times. NOW he's a killer.
How anyone can blame the police for this is brain-dead logic.
"No-chase" policies go against the fundamental "get your man" theory of how to reduce crime. "No-chase" practices bring about *more* brazen acts, *NOT* fewer. Again, this car crash is solid, irrefutable proof.
May this poor woman's death not be in vain and be the push the pathetic Char-Meck courts and their lame-@ssed D.A. Peter, Peter Pumkin Eater need to grow some b@lls for a change and put this kid away for the death **HE** caused!!!!
People, please ... help save us all. Allow our police to do their jobs: Catch the bad guys.
I knoe the family of the deceased and her death was a crime. The person the committed the crime is the thief NOT the police.
The real criminal is Mecklenburg County officials who have deliberately refused to maintain Mallard Creek road or upgrade it because it leads to shopping in another county. They are more guilty than any police officer.
No, the Charlotte police are not complacent - they are too busy shooting techinicians doing their jobs, or 70 year old diabetics in wheel chairs to chase real criminals.
I am trully sorry for the lady who died but .. it is time to stop blaming the police when it is the criminal at fault here. If they had never stolen something and got in a car and took off speeding -- then they wouldn't have happened.
Yeah.. It is so ironic -- the police aren't allowed to speed because it might cause accidents... How.. but it is ok for the criminals to speed. hmmmm. something is wrong with this picture.
To JasonH - Yeah, I'm the idiot for pointing out the stupidity of overzealous police officers with nothing better to do than chase a shoplifter at high speed in someone else' jurisdiction. They probably spent more in gas than than the shoe's are worth. And cretins like you are egging them on.
If you're a resident of Cabarras County, enjoy seeing your taxes go to this poor woman's family in a court settlement, over a pair of shoes.
But you're clearly too stupid to see that.
Do you tihnk this African - American Councilman would be griping if it was a white person that wiped out another middle class white person........NO. "Seperate But Equal Eh barnes?"
Put the blame on the one who stole the shoes and then did not stop for the police. Everyone says they should not have chased him for a pair of shoe, but they might not have even known it was only for a pair of shoes.
I can end this for all of you. Both sides can cool it. The perpetrators will pay for the lady's death and the shoes they stole. The Concord Police Department (City of Concord) will also pay. They will pay the woman's family for their part in her death. So there is no need for you guys to tear into each other with insults. Let the system work and everyone will see the results. Barnes is a politican, it happened in his district, what do you expect him to do? He did what politicians do, politicize things. This isn't a complicated matter, its simple.
What was his name? Oh yeah, douchebag thug. I feel bad that a citizen lost their life, but it is not the police fault. The thief/thug should be charged with homicide. It was his actions that caused the death, not the police. How desperate could he have been (or stupid). My guess is flat out ignorant and raised by a single mother on welfare.
TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR ALL READERS...It is wrong for the police to pursue criminal individuals, in a high populated area, that is not protecting the community it's endangering the community. Some of you folks need to use your critical thinking skills and rationalize this. If you allow this what's next police chasing criminals uptown going 60 to 100 mph. Cabarrus County if sued will loose, they had better settle out of court...ASK L.A. COUNTY why they discontinued their pursuit policy.
I guess you all are right....The cops should have let him go for shoplifting and taken the chance that this thug would have gone and committed another crime like murder. All you idiots would be doing a different song and dance then. It is sad that this woman was killed but that does not change the fact that the police were doing there job. Blame cannot be put on the police. What if the shoplifter was checking out his new pair of shoes and crossed the center line and killed this woman....Once again you all would be doing a different song and dance.
Here we have a punk defending a punk.
Barnes would have said nothing had it been a white woman killed by a criminal thief running from the crime with the police in pusuit crossing over the yellow lines and hitting the innocent vehicle headon.
So a local yocal politician punk named Barnes is now defending a murderer a theft a reckless driver law breaker speeder who crossed the center lines? Figures. And we are sure the criminal will get a lawyer to sue the cops.
Why didnt your beloved speeding thief reckless driver criminal stop?
This is so typical reverse racism by those who are always defending only their own regardless of the circumstance.
Barnes. You are a typical liberal RACIST piece of trash punk of the worse kind!
Moral to story?
8THCOMMANDMENT:THOU SHALT NOT STEAL
6TH COMMANDMENT: THOU SHALT NOT KILL
Dump the punk politican !!!
It is very sad that the innocent one was killed instead of the guilty one. Criminals are worthless parasites to society. They steal, break into cars doing damages, rape, murder and cost taxpayers billions. Anyone who defends this criminal is guilty themselves but we know the idiot liberal protective mentality that exists.
Barnes is guilty of collusion. Arrest him.
Concord police get a verbal reprimand, while the driver of the Highway 49 street racing vehicle that wasn't directly involved in the collision gets three murder charges against her.....something is wrong here
We live off Mallard Creek and are thankful for any police who run down criminals in our area. This is a small country road hit by recent growth but we must have police to protect innocent people and get these scumbags out of society.
The real problem with crime in society is that goofy looking elected official nerdy moron with that idiot looking Dubya smirk on his face in the photo above wearing the suit.
Anon @ 7:34... You took the words right out of my mouth!! Barnes would be quite as a church mouse if it was a white lady that died and a white boy that was running. Great comment...
Barnes is right. Concord's policy also says the police shouldn't have pursued shoplifter in car chase.
I have a question. Yeah they stole shoes but isn't speeding and driving like and idiot considered life endangering enough? So if I speed and should the Cop chase me because honestly that causes a high level of endangerment to other persons? It just doesn't make sense because yes the cops persued the Criminals but once in a vehicle they broke otherlaws like reckless endangerment and speeding that can harm other people. I would say the police did what was necessary. Can I get a free pair of shoes now?
Barnes is right. The criminals should not have shoplifted or fled, and they should be charged for all of the crimes they committed. But their crimes do do not justify or excuse the actions of the police officers who chose to endanger lives by pursuing fleeing petty thieves in a high speed chase on public roads. As soon as it was clear that the criminals intended to flee, the police should have stopped their pursuit and used the identification information available to them and their other communication and observation resources to track, investigate and apprehend. There was no excuse or justification for this high speed chase and the officers, and any superior who approved their conduct should be held accountable under applicable laws, both civil and criminal if appropriate. The police power and uniform do not make officers immune for the wrong things they do, even when those things are done in response to the bad acts of criminals.
Oh ok we get yo rap now bro ...
its the cops and law abiders who are the evil terrible bad guys who deserve to be punished not the poor helpless criminals who are the good guys and can steal murder and break the law at will and have their local political slimewad official speak in their behalf...
hummmm ... ok... yo bro... we hear u talkin ... we had it all wrong ... and they should be giving away free merchandise at these stores so they wouldnt have to steal it ...
Anonymous at 10:14: Does it matter to you that your interpretation of Barnes's comments bear no relation to what he said? Are you really an ignorant racist or do you just play one online for comic effect?
Well, it does appear on the surface to be a foolish decision chase someone over a pair of shoes. But wouldn't you be suspicious of a person who runs from the police over some shoes ? Don't you people know who are writing these ignorant comments that you dont' run away from the police ?
That thug killed that poor woman.
I do not think they should do this, but I understand the rationale. Barnes doesn't have any business getting involved in this.
unless that was a bank robbery or other serious crime those cops should have stopped at the county line and let the charmeck cops take over and decided what they wanted to do.
all cops communicate in a split sec with each other including state highway patrol all under the state.
the best thing to come out of this is to force petty thieves to be dealt with by the county they are in only regardless where it began.
cops from other counties should never be allowed cross county lines except in emergencies involving serious crimes only and not petty thievery.
sue the bastards.
This Blog is going places, the people, the layout, amazing to see such dedication and focus.
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