Uptown July 4 celebration declared an ‘extraordinary event’

Charlotte officials declared this Saturday’s SkyShow 2015 celebration an “extraordinary event,” allowing police to stop people who bring banned items into uptown.

The declaration, made by City Manager Ron Carlee on June 23, bans carrying certain objects that could be used as weapons, unless police judge a person has a legitimate use to carry them.

The declaration lets officers more freely question participants carrying objects like PVC pipes, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Jeff Estes said Tuesday during a news conference.

“That just gives us a little bit more leeway and the ability to ask questions of people,” he said.

The declaration applies to the area bounded by Stonewall Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the north, Graham Street to the west and Davidson Street to the east.

Banned items include fireworks, aerosol cans, water guns, sharp or bladed objects, police scanners, hammers, and devices that shoot, hurl or project missiles capable of seriously hurting someone.

Estes said any event drawing a large crowd without requiring a security check creates public safety concerns.

Police arrested four adults and no juveniles in the Center City on the day of 2014’s Fourth of July celebration, according to a memo sent from Police Chief Kerr Putney to Carlee. Nearly 100,000 have gathered to watch fireworks in the area before, the memo noted.

Captain Mike Campagna said 2014’s turnout was bigger than expected, so the department has a scalable plan depending on how many participants show up. “I’d be a liar if I said we weren’t a little shocked by the numbers we did last year,” he said.

The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI warned law enforcement nationwide Friday of the potential for attacks on the holiday.

Estes said CMPD had a comprehensive plan in place before hearing the announcement.

“Any time there’s a larger group of people gathered together, they’re potential targets,” he said.

Charlotte Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Zander said the department will station firefighters on nearby rooftops.

This story was originally published June 30, 2015 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Uptown July 4 celebration declared an ‘extraordinary event’."