Fourth Ward Update

Parking Update
The Committee has been working hard and has made recommendations that will be presented to the Board and the community in September. These recommendations will be published and time for comments from the community will be provided. More to come.

Safety Update
Two 4W residents will address the October 27 General Meeting about public safety. Both were victims in two separate sexual assaults in September 2007 done by the same man – Chris Tabb - within a few minutes of each other. The first woman's chest was grabbed as she walked to work on a Saturday morning on Church Street. The second woman was pushed down and accosted. He only ran away after she threatened to call the police. ADA Samantha Pendergrass - who capably prosecuted the case – will also be coming. A jury acquitted him on the Attempted Rape case in August, but convicted him of several lesser charges. (He had been let out of jail only one month before after being arrested for exposing himself, and masturbating, in front of another 4W resident.)Mr. Tabb has been in jail since the incident and remains in jail pending an evaluation.

Thefts from vehicles continue to be our biggest problem. While we are fortunate to not experience much violent crime (unlike other areas of the city), we are at grave risk of continuing to make Fourth Ward an inviting target to criminals. Today's car thief may be tomorrow's home burglar. So when you leave your valuables in plain sight, you may be taking a risk with your own property. But you are also laying the groundwork for your family's and neighbor's home burglary, or worse.

FOFW Newsletter

Be On The Lookout - BOLO

James Burns McDaniel was arrested on 8/19/08. He was observed stalking women in surface parking lots in uptown. He was picking out women walking alone, talking on the cell phone, or not paying attention to surroundings. He would following them through the lots waiting to see if they would get out of sight of the public.

His criminal history shows he has multiple convictions for aggravated robbery in Tennessee and Virginia . He also has multiple convictions for B&E Auto , Theft , Forgery , and long list of drug charges.

Click here to see arrest records.

Be On The Lookout - BOLO

We have a new scam in Uptown.

Recently a woman has been knocking on doors asking questions about an Uptown resident. This woman is about 5’6", dark brown hair and is claiming to be the half sister or sister in law. She will ask probing questions about a resident. Please TURN her away and call the police. The folks involved have spoken to the police and the police think that the woman is mentally unstable. She went through their mailbox and was able to come up with enough information to put together a story that sounds convincing.

Let’s work together as neighbors and help turn her (And anyone else that thinks this is a good scam to get money) away!

If you have any questions - please email us. If you have come into contact with her and have other information that will help – please share your experiences!

National Night Out

Tuesday, August 5, 2008, is National Night Out. National Night Out is an annual, country-wide event where communities and police departments team up to have fun and promote safety. On the 5th, First Ward Neighbors will hold it's regularly scheduled neighborhood meeting at 7:00pm at the First Ward Recreation Center (610 E. 7th St). The First Ward Community Fund will provide food and drinks for this event. We will use the meeting to help strengthen our Neighborhood Watch. Guests include our new Chief of Police, Rodney Monroe, and other community leaders.


What is National Night Out?

It's America's Night Out Against Crime!

The "25th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2008. We cordially invite you and your community to be a part of our NIGHT OUT 2008 team.

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 35 million people participated in National Night Out 2007.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Be On The Lookout - BOLO

Two guys in a white Toyota truck with AT&T on the side came to my house and I was not home. My neighbor saw them and called me, I informed her I did not have AT&T. She watched the guys and they rang the doorbell and no one was at home so they then went and opened my fence gate and started in the back yard. She yelled and questioned the guys and they gave her a story about a work order etc. They did not have the work order or my name. She called me and I spoke with the gentlemen and nothing was making sense. I called AT&T and their security division called me back and informed me they do not have Toyota trucks nor was anyone scheduled for a service call in the area yesterday at that time. AT&T has alerted their drivers and security division to be on the lookout for this truck. I wanted to let you know in case you have email to neighbors in Plaza Midwood you could let them know to be on the lookout so they don't get robbed by these guys. David at AT&T left his number to call in case anyone sees this truck 704-724-6243. David said all AT&T reps wear khaki pants and an AT&T shirt with a ID around their neck which these guys were not wearing.

This incident occurred in Plaza-Midwood and details were provided by the resident.

First Ward Robbery

Two guys knocked on the door of a townhouse in First Ward and pointed a gun at the owner, demanding his cell phone and wallet. The criminals took off running. This was in broad daylight at 4:00 in the afternoon yesterday.

We are waiting for more information from the police.

Homeless or Criminal?

Are the homeless criminals, drunks and drug addicts? A few are, but not all. The question is how do we treat our homeless citizens who are not breaking any laws, yet satisfy the complaints from those who want the homeless gone? This Charlotte Observer article touches on the issue. We are a nation of laws and our laws must be obeyed. We are also a nation of givers and organizations which help our homeless are worthy of support. The Urban Ministry Center, through a myriad of services, have been helping the homeless for years. Take a few moments to visit their web site and if you are so incline you can make a small donation to support their mission.

Police crack down where homeless eat
As uptown grows, so does pressure to keep out homeless
By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com

In an effort to relocate homeless from a developing area of uptown, police this month launched a crackdown on misdemeanors at a popular gathering spot for free meals.

“The Wall,” as it is referred to, on Phifer Avenue next to the Hal Marshall Center, for years has been a place of refuge for the city's growing homeless population. Advocates for the homeless bring cars full of food several days a week and set up tables to hand out meals and clothes.

The police, pressured by local property owners, began the new project to enforce misdemeanor crimes such as littering and trespassing associated with the meals. It is part of a larger effort to reduce crime in the area.

It's a sticky issue that reflects Charlotte's ongoing struggle over how to balance the needs of its growing homeless community with continued efforts to revitalize uptown. Roughly 5,000 men and women live on Charlotte's streets.

Police said they're receiving a growing number of complaints from area property owners about the homeless. The owner of Rustic Martini bar, at North Tryon and Phifer Avenue, reported that homeless have loitered and urinated on his property, police said. The upscale martini bar opened last summer. Calls to the bar were not returned.

Members of the homeless community say the police are trying to eliminate one of the few places they have to get a hot dinner in uptown.

This is not the first time police have stepped up efforts to control the homeless population in uptown.

In 2003, the city passed an ordinance making it illegal to panhandle within 20 feet of ATMs, outdoor cafes, banks, taxi stands and transit stops. Uptown benches were outfitted with metal bars to stop people from lying down.