CMPD arrests two during weekend street takeover events that drew 500 people to Charlotte
Two people were arrested and a bystander was shot during “street takeovers” in Charlotte over the weekend, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police captain said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
About 500 vehicles arrived in the city to take part in the illegal street races in which people started fires, shot fireworks, and performed stunts on public roads, Capt. Stephen Fischbach said.
“There were approximately 100 Friday night, and then Saturday night about 400 vehicles,” Fischbach said. “These groups appear to be ... one big, solid group, coordinated group, that are coming here with these intentions.”
The bystander, a driver watching a street takeover at University City Boulevard and Neal Road and not participating, was shot in the hip after people began firing guns at the intersection, Fischbach said. The bystander is recovering and cooperating with CMPD’s investigation.
Drivers moved to that intersection after police dispersed a group who had taken over a street near the 8100 block of University City Boulevard. Fischbach said officers assigned to specifically address the problem over the weekend were on the ground, ready to keep groups moving.
He said the department followed trends and used investigative work to coordinate the effort.
Many of the drivers on Saturday came to Charlotte after an event ended at the Rockingham Dragway in Richmond County. Between 11 p.m. Saturday and 5:30 a.m. Sunday, drivers began taking over public roadways in Charlotte, including at:
- 9500 block of South Boulevard
- Wilkinson Boulevard and Sam Wilson Road
- 2500 block of Sardis Road North
- Kenilworth Avenue and I-277
- 4900 block of Gibbon Road
Police arrested Cortavian Winston, 21, and Ki’Juan Thompson, 23, who were both charged with participating in a street takeover, flee to elude, and resisting an officer. Thompson, 23 was also charged with hit and run.
Officers also issued 18 citations, seized five vehicles, and recovered one stolen vehicle over the weekend, Fischbach said.
It can be difficult to make a “huge, wide-ranging arrest of a large group of people,” Fischbach said. People leave the scene when police show up to make arrests, he said.
Many drivers come from other places to Charlotte to participate in street takeovers, Fischbach said, including both Winston and Thompson. Police affidavits showed Winston has a Georgia driver’s license and Thompson’s is from New Jersey.
A police affidavit for Winston’s arrest said officers observed 500 vehicles in the parking lot of a shopping mall in south Charlotte at 9541 South Boulevard at 11:50 p.m. on Saturday.
“Officers observed hundreds of vehicles drifting, doing burnouts, and doing donuts at the incident address,” the affidavit said. “Officers contacted 455, the helicopter unit who then began observing the street takeover from above.”
The affidavit said officers saw a 2012 silver Chrysler 300 in the center of the vehicles. The police helicopter stayed above and continued monitoring the Chrysler as vehicles began fleeing.
“Officers were then able to get directly behind the suspect vehicle,” the affidavit said. At 12:16 a.m., officers attempted to stop the vehicle.
“Officers initiated their emergency lights and sirens to signal a lawful traffic stop. The vehicle began to slow roll and then accelerated at a high rate of speed away from Law Enforcement.”
Winston allegedly weaved in and out of traffic, including into oncoming traffic to try to escape. Police and the helicopter continue to keep an eye on the vehicle after turning off their lights and sirens.
Winston then pulled onto a curb, got out the passenger side, and ran before police caught him, the affidavit said.
The affidavit for Thompson’s arrest said police saw him driving a red Dodge Challenger with a Pennsylvania license plate with temporary tags on Friday at 10:40 p.m. at the intersection of 3rd Street and Poplar Street.
“Officers than observed the vehicle do burnout (turning his wheels at high rate of speed) and followed behind,” the affidavit said. “Officers then initiated their lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle continued to accelerate at high rate of speed.”
Thompson then allegedly sped through an intersection, hit a vehicle, and continued fleeing.
“Moments after the collision the vehicle was observed slowing down and pulled over to the left side into side street parking when suddenly the defendant Ki’juan Thompson was seen fleeing on foot from the vehicle as Officers gave chase,” the affidavit said. “Officers were able to catch up to him on 4th St and arrested him.”
A magistrate gave Thompson $1,000 unsecured bond, court records showed. Winston was given a $5,000 unsecured bond.
“They come from the outside again to try to make this city their playground,” Fischbach said. “Charlotte’s a great city — it’s an up and coming city — there’s something that attracted all of us in this room to Charlotte. And unfortunately, that also brings in the criminal element as well.”
