Peace & Love Gangbanging
Charlotte’s gang problem isn’t really a gang problem, more like a version of the Brady Bunch and Partridge Family living under one roof, according to Police Chief Rodney Monroe, who offered this stunning evaluation of the local crime scene in the wake of the mob riot that erupted uptown, leaving one dead, one wounded, 70 arrested, and a police chief and mayor spinning for all their worth. This from WCNC:
Chief Rodney Monroe says the city was prepared for the crowds of Speed Street.
“At no time did we feel that anything was out of control or that we were not handling the situation,” Monroe said.
By 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the crowd swelled to more than 75,000. Despite the 100 additional officers patrolling the area around N. College and N. McDowell streets and 6th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, the chaos was undeniable.
“You just had kids out there running amuck,” Monroe said. “They were yelling the word ‘gun’, and all of a sudden, 25 of them star taking off running. You know, that caused some panic among people.”
Amidst that panic were gang members who had been at odds for the weeks leading up to Speed Street.
“They’re not to the level that you see in a lot of other cities,” Monroe said. “I mean you could have somebody from the Crips and somebody from the Bloods living in the same house here in Charlotte.”
See, it’s just like Jan and Bobby and Keith and Danny, harmony and good fun under one roof, expect, you know, toss in some guns, knives, regular doses of armed robbery, assault, rape, drug dealing and mob violence.
Amazing commentary from a police chief who is either in the grips of complete denial or abject ignorance; and to be honest, I’m not sure which is worse. But neither is good – or acceptable.
Or maybe I’m just off my rocker, and the Bloods and Crips are breaking bread and swapping recipes left and right these days, dividends from the county’s initiative that’s fighting gangs with frying pans and pastries.
Extra Credit: more from the Brady/Partridge posse – police have issued an arrest warrant for the suspect in the mob riot shooting, one Antonio Amos Thompkins, 20, who has an extensive rap sheet dating to 2009 that includes multiple arrests for felony robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of marijuana, and trespassing.
Antonio Amos Thompkins
Anyone with information about Thompkins is encouraged to call the CMPD’s violent criminal apprehension team at 704-336-VCAT (8228), or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
We need your help! If you like PunditHouse, please consider donating to us. Even $5 a month can make a difference!
Short URL: https://pundithouse.com/?p=6386
