Updated Monday 4:38pm
CONCORD – A 15-year-old high school student was fatally shot Sunday night while riding in a car near downtown Concord. The boy died after he was taken to a local hospital. Concord police are investigating the shooting, in which someone from another vehicle apparently shot into the car where the victim was riding.

Mark Gevon Bostic Jr., 15, of Robbins Street in Concord, was pronounced dead at Northeast Medical Center. He was a sophomore at J.M. Robinson High School in Concord.

Concord Police were called to Northeast Medical Center shortly before 10 pm Sunday, where doctors were treating a gunshot victim. They found the boy, who had been brought to the hospital in a private car.

Police said a preliminary investigation found Bostic had been shot while riding in a vehicle in the area of Corban Avenue SW and Crowell Drive SW, a few blocks from downtown.

Police said they have learned that two vehicles were involved in the incident, gunshots fired from one car to the other. One round struck Bostic and proved to be fatal. The incident began about a mile away from the shooting scene, when occupants of the vehicles became involved in a disagreement, police said.

The vehicle in which the shooter was riding followed the victim’s car to the intersection where the shooting happened.  Police say they’ve located the second vehicle.

Police said they’re still investigating and would not release any additional information Monday afternoon.

CONCORD – Concord Police arrested two suspects Thursday night on charges related to the murder of a 15-year-old A.L. Robinson High School student Sunday.

Concord Police were called to Northeast Medical Center shortly before 10 pm Sunday, where doctors were treating a gunshot victim. Mark Gevon Bostic Jr., 15, of Robbins Street in Concord, was pronounced dead at the hospital, where he had been brought in a private car.

Police charged Marlon Tyrese Banner, 25, and Corey Levi Banner, 18, with one count each of First Degree Murder and Discharging a Weapon into a Moving Vehicle. Both men live on Boulder Drive SW in Concord.

Police said a preliminary investigation found Bostic had been shot while riding in a vehicle in the area of Corban Avenue SW and Crowell Drive SW, a few blocks from downtown.

The two suspects were being held Thursday night at Cabbarus County Jail.

RELATED COVERAGE

Oct. 14, 2013, “15-year-old student shot to death near downtown Concord.”

Updated Wednesday 9:49am
HUNTERSVILLE – A Mt. Holly woman died and two other people were injured in a two-car crash Tuesday morning on N.C. 73 near Babe Stilwell Road and Blythe Landing Park. Police said Wednesday they expect to file criminal charges in the case.

The incident happened around 10 am, as the two cars approached one another from opposite directions.

One woman in a white car was headed eastbound on N.C. 73, and entered the turn lane to make a left turn into the park. Her car was struck by a second car, a black sedan headed west on the road, according to a Huntersville Fire Department spokesman.

The woman who died was a passenger in the westbound car. She died at the scene. The car’s male driver was seriously injured and had to be cut from the vehicle, the fire spokesman said.

The crash sent both cars into a utility pole. The driver of the white car also was hurt, with several fractures, according to a fire department report.

Huntersville police are investigating and said Wednesday that “criminal charges are pending.” No further details were available.

A Huntersville Fire Department report said witnesses on the scene reported that the Black Nissan was traveling at a high rate of speed.

HUNTERSVILLE POLICE REPORT

The Huntersville Police Department responded to the 15900 block of Highway 73 in reference to a traffic crash with personal injuries. The two vehicles involved were a black in color Nissan Altima and a white in color Toyota Corolla. The Nissan Altima was being driven by Brian Scott Atkins of Huntersville, NC. Mr. Atkins was transported to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with serious injuries.

The Toyota Corolla was being driven by Trina Osborne of Charlotte, NC. Ms. Osborne was transported to Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte, NC with serious injuries. A passenger in the Nissan Altima was pronounced dead at the scene by Medic personnel. The passenger has been identified as Nicole P. Wright of Mount Holly, NC.

The Huntersville Police Department Traffic Safety Section is currently investigating this collision. Criminal charges are pending the outcome of this active investigation.

The house at 19109 Coachman’s Trace showed little sign of damage after a fire Oct. 23. A man was injured in the blaze, which police say caused $20,000 damage. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)

Police and fire officials are continuing their investigation into what caused an Oct. 23 fire on Coachman’s Trace that injured a 33-year-old Cornelius man.  Police this week identified the man, and gave a few new details about the fire. The call was among 57 over the past week for Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department.

The calls included another working fire – on Peninsula Cove Lane – as well as 13 fire alarms, and 7 motor vehicle accidents, including one on Catawba Avenue where a truck pulled down utility lines and forced the road to be closed. More information about these and others below, along with a tally of this week’s medical calls.

FIRE INVESTIGATION

Firefighters and police were called to 19109 Coachman’s Trace Drive, off Washam-Potts Road in the Glenridge neighborhood, at around 12:05pm on Wednesday, Oct. 23, where they saw smoke coming from the second floor.

Once inside, firefighters found 33-year-old Michael Franco at the bottom of the stairs, with burns and other injuries.  Firefighters treated the man and he was later taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. As of Wednesday, he was still recovering from his injuries in the hospital, police said.

Fire units from Huntersville and Davidson also responded to the fire, which was quickly contained.  A police report estimated damages to the house were about $20,000. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, a police spokeswoman said Wednesday.

 See our initial report, Oct. 23, 2013, “Midday fire on Coachman’s Trace injures 1 person”

OTHER FIRE CALLS THIS WEEK 

THURSDAY, OCT. 24, 6:11am, 122 Lilac Mist Loop, Davidson - firefighters responded to a call for a possible structure fire with a burning smell present in the home.  Upon arrival, the home was checked thoroughly with a thermal imaging camera and the source was determined to be dust in the HVAC system.  The heat had been turned on for the first time the night before.

MEDICAL CALLS

Updated Friday, 7:57am
A woman was hospitalized after she ran her boat into other docked boats at the Peninsula Yacht Club marina on Lake Norman Thursday afternoon.

N.C. Wildlife Enforcement and rescue workers on the scene said the woman was treated for a large head laceration. She was taken to the hospital by Medic.

An emergency call came in around 2:20pm reporting a loud bang after the collision at the club, which is off Harbor Light Boulevard in Cornelius.

The impact of the crash sent the woman’s dogs into the water as well. They were picked up by another boater, according to Cornelius fire department.

Medic, Cornelius Police, N.C. Wildlife Enforcement and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police responded to the call. Cornelius Police Department referred questions to N.C. Wildlife Enforcement officers and Charlotte Mecklenburg police, who are investigating.

On Friday, N.C. Wildlife officer Kyle Voris gave this account:

There were two women leaving the docks at the club and the operator backed into the bank or another boat, unsure yet. The woman put in forward and took off and started hitting boats from one dock to the other causing a lot of damage before hitting the last boat and dock on the end. The operator suffered a bad head injury. The investigation is still ongoing.

A 30-year-old Charlotte man was hospitalized Sunday afternoon after he was struck by a car while bicycling on West Catawba Avenue near Kenton Place. The crash happened around 2:15pm apparently when a Huntersville woman steered in front of the bicycle while turning from West Catawba onto Dunmore Drive.

The cyclist was taken by Medic to Carolinas Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He was wearing a helmet, according to a police report.

The man told police he was headed north on West Catawba Avenue at about 20 to 22 miles per hour when the woman in a 2012 Subaru turned in front of him. He didn’t have time to slam on the breaks and he was thrown headfirst into the car. His bicycle flew over the top of the Subaru and landed in the middle of West Catawba.

Witnesses found the man lying face down in the street.

The driver told police she was headed south on West Catawba and didn’t see any cars or the cyclist coming toward her as as she prepared to turn. She said “she knew something had happened when she heard a bang.”

The woman was cited for with failure to yield while making the turn.

Cornelius Police Department last week charged two men in connection with a series of car break-ins, and they’re seeking the public’s help in the case. Meanwhile, police and the county fire marshal also released more information about Thursday night’s fire on Country Club Lane, off Torrence Chapel Road, and put out a call for tips as well.

HELP SOUGHT WITH FIRE INVESTIGATION

Police and the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating Wednesday night’s fire that destroyed a house on Country Club Lane, off Torrence Chapel Road.

Firefighters were called around 7:48pm Wednesday for the fire at 21321 Country Club Lane. The home was unoccupied at the time.

A preliminary investigation determined that the fire began in the right, rear corner of the home near ground level. The cause is still under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office at 704-336-2154.

SUSPECTS CHARGED WITH CAR BREAK-INS

Police arrested two men on felony charges last week after they were found near the scene of car break-ins at One Norman Apartments.

A caller contacted police on Thursday, Dec. 12, around 2:33am, to report two suspicious subjects breaking into cars. Officers found Samuel Glen Chapman, 21, and Mark Richard Wells, 24, in the parking lot of One Norman Apartments.

The suspects were detained while officers continued to investigate, checking the white Ford truck registered to Wells. They found several items inside the interior and the bed of the truck. After speaking with victims, officers searched Chapman and Wells and located other items that were reported stolen.

Chapman and Wells were charged with three counts each of Felony Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, one count each of Felony Larceny and four counts each of Misdemeanor Larceny. They were taken to Mecklenburg County Jail and both released on a $14,000 bond.

Anyone with information about the break-ins is asked to call Cornelius Police Detectives at 704-892-7773. You can remain anonymous.

OTHER RECENT POLICE REPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 3:49pm, 20000 Block of One Norman Blvd. -A resident told police that between 6:15am and 2:30pm, someone stole her 2002 White Mercury Villager that was parked in front of her apartment. The approximate value of the vehicle stolen $10,000. Police are investigating.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, , 10:15am – A resident of Norman Colony Road reported to police that someone used his credit card number without his permission on Dec. 7 at 1:56pm, at a Home Depot in Dallas, TX, to buy goods worth $2,321.94. It also was used later on hotel.com. Police are investigating.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18,, 9:15am, McCall House, 20601 N. Main St. – An employee there reported that sometime between 8:30pm Tuesday and 9am Wednesday, someone broke into her hair salon and stole purple full size Andis trimmers (valued approximately $90), a black Whal trimmer set (valued approximately $90), 12 beauty towels (valued approximately $20) and
damaged a GiGi beauty wax machine (valued approximately $40). Total estimated value in damaged and stolen items is $240. The break-in is under investigation.

TUESDAY, DEC. 17, 5:27am, 7600 block of Woods Lane – Officers spoke with a resident who reported that sometime between 8:30am Monday and 5:20am Tuesday, someone he knew entered his Jeep Cherokee without permission and removed a stuffed duck and a wood gun case, valued at $1600.

TUESDAY, DEC. 17, 6:38am, 19330 Zion Ave. construction site – Workers reported a burglary at a trailer between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. The unknown suspect(s) broke a padlock and took eight rolls of 3/8-inch copper tubing, valued at $1400, 5 rolls of 7/8-inch copper tubing, valued at $1400, 4 rolls of 3/4-inch copper tubing, valued at $1000, two 8 foot ladders, valued at $250, and two 6 foot ladders, valued at $178. Total value of the missing items was $4,228. Police are investigating.

TUESDAY, DEC. 17, 7:16am, I-77 northbound, between Exits 25 and 28 – A Huntersville woman was headed north on the highway in her 2011 Kia when its right rear tire blew out, causing her to lose control. She struck the left guard rail and then crossed back over onto the right shoulder. Other traffic halted quickly, and a second car driven by a Uniontown, PA, man struck the right rear bumper of a third car, a 2012 Honda driven by a Lewisville, NC, woman. Nobody was hurt in the rush-hour crash.

Police on Wednesday arrested a 52-year-old man on charges that he sexually assaulted two women at his home on Glenmeade Road. Meanwhile, a Jetton Road resident told police that someone cut the wires on his Christmas lights on Sunday night. Police charged or cited five people on possession of marijuana and other charges after a complaint about noise at the Antiquity Heights Apartments, on Brennady Drive. And police are investigating a car break-in in the Antiquity Cornelius neighborhood overnight on Christmas.

MAN FACES RAPE CHARGE

Gabriel Fierro

Two women came to police headquarters around 11:30am Monday, where they told police that they were assaulted at the home of a Cornelius man they knew, between 1 and 4am that day. Police later arrested the man. One woman is 21 years old. The age of the other was redacted from a police report.

Gabriel Fierro, 52, of Glenmeade Road in the Glenridge neighborhood, was released on $65,000 bond after being charged with one count of second-degree sexual offense and one count of second degree rape.

Fierro is an Army veteran who has been teaching ROTC at Butler High School in Matthews, according to a police report and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools website. Police said the incident was unrelated to his work.

WSOC-TV reported that CMS reported Fierro had resigned on Thursday.

OTHER INCIDENT REPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25, 10:52am, Lady Glencirn Court, Antiquity Cornelius – A resident told police her vehicle was being broken into some time between Christmas Eve at 7:45pm and Christmas day around 10:45am. Missing were items valued at $1,710, including a gray furry handbag, wallet, credit cards, one iPhone5 valued at $500, one house key, two key fobs valued at $200, one makeup bag, one pair of sunglasses valued at $400, prescription glasses valued at $500, $20 cash, a North Carolina driver license. The vehicle was not damaged. Police are investigating.

MONDAY, DEC. 23,, 6:21am, 19800 block of Deer Valley Drive – Police were called to the home, where they found several smashed window panes next to the building entry. An office followed a trail of glass shards to the third floor, where they found a known suspect passed out in front of an apartment door. The man admitted that at about 3am, he had smashed the window to gain access to the building. He was charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering.

MONDAY, DEC. 23, 8:14am, 21300 block of Nautique Blvd. – A resident told police that sometime between 2 and 6am Sunday, someone stole items from his unlocked white Chrysler 300 and damaged the vehicle. All four tires were damaged (estimated value $1,600), the passenger doors were scratched (estimated value $500), the front hood was scratched (estimated value $500) and the front windshield was broken (estimated value $150). The man’s wallet and NC driver’s license were missing, along with credit cards, children’s clothes, two Galaxy computer tablets. Total value of stolen items was estimated at $3,024.

MONDAY, DEC. 23, 10:36pm, 1500 block of Brennady Drive – Police were called for a complaint of noise, and found a strong odor of marijuana when they arrived. Police spoke to a known suspect, who refused to allow a search. Officers applied for and received a search warrant for the residence and vehicles registered to any and all of its occupants. The search resulted in the arrest of three suspects, and citations against two other people. Police seized marijuana, a scale, pipes, knives, pill bottles, and other items.

SUNDAY, DEC. 22, 7pm, 16600 block of Jetton Road – A man told police that between 1 am and 7pm, someone damaged numerous Christmas lights and yard decorations in his yard by cutting the wiring. He estimated damages at $5,000.

SUNDAY, DEC. 22, 2:40pm, GNC, 19825 North Cove Road – An employee reported that two unknown suspects entered the store and stole seven packages of vitamin supplements and testosterone boosters worth $869.13.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 7:52pm, 21321 Country Club Road – Police were dispatched along with firefighters to a house fire at the residence, on Lake Norman. When they arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. Residents were not home at the time of the fire. The Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal is investigating. Police said in a press release that a preliminary investigation determined the fire began in the right, rear corner of the home near ground level. Anyone with information is asked to call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office at 704-336-2154. (See a related story and photos on CorneliusNews.net.)

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Police cars filled the parking lot of the Bank of America on West Catawba Avenue after Tuesday’s robbery. (James Sanders/CorneliusNews.net)

Updated 8:20pm
Police arrested two Charlotte men as suspects in the robbery of the Bank of America branch on West Catawba Avenue Tuesday morning after a car chase into Huntersville.

Tamir Dion Simmons, 30, and Donovan Roy Walters, 20,  were charged with Common Law Robbery, Conspiracy, and Felony Possession of Stolen Goods. On Tuesday night, both were being held in Mecklenburg County Jail in Charlotte, with bail set at $105,000 each. They’re due in court on Thursday, Jan. 2. (See police announcement below.)

Police were called to the bank at 9:51am after two suspects entered the branch, leaped the counter and grabbed an undisclosed amount of money.  A police spokeswoman said the men were not armed.

The men fled in a Silver Camaro convertible with a black top. Witnesses called the police with a description of the vehicle driving erratically. Police located the car a short time later and gave chase.

Police caught the men near Long Creek Elementary School, on Beatties Ford Road, in Huntersville, around 10:07am, the spokeswoman said.

The suspects did not have weapons, police said.

CORNELIUS POLICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Cornelius Police Arrest Suspects in Bank Robbery

On Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at approximately 9:51am, Cornelius Police were dispatched to the Bank of America at 20005 West Catawba Avenue in reference to a robbery in progress. Two black males jumped the counter inside the bank and stole money. They left the scene in a Silver Camaro Convertible with a black top. Witnesses called the police with a description of the vehicle driving erratically. Officers pursued the vehicle towards Huntersville. With the help of the Huntersville and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments, the suspects were apprehended near Long Creek Elementary School after they ran from the vehicle.

Cornelius Police have arrested Tamir Dion Simmons (10/26/84) and Donovan Roy Walters (02/09/1994) of Charlotte and charged them each with one count of Common Law Robbery, one count of Conspiracy, and one count of Felony Possession of Stolen Goods.

Cornelius Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Detectives at (704) 892-7773.

A 72-year-old Huntersville man was charged with failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk after he struck a mother and her two children in a stroller Friday at the intersection of Main Street and Catawba Avenue in downtown Cornelius. Meanwhile, a Meta Road woman had some bad luck on Saturday, as drivers in two separate incidents drove their cars into her 2006 Kia about 5 1/2 hours apart.

WOMAN AND CHILDREN STRUCK IN CROSSWALK

The Huntersville man was driving his 2002 Ford pickup west out of the Antiquity Cornelius neighborhood around 4:30pm on Friday, Dec. 27, and turned left onto South Main Street. He told police he was blinded by the setting sun, and then heard a thud. He slammed on the brakes, and realized that he had hit the mother and children.

The 27-year-old woman had pushed the button and waited for the crosswalk beacon to flash before crossing South Main Street between the Cashion’s gas station and the east side of the street. The woman and one child were thrown while the second child was briefly stuck in the stroller under the truck.

Firefighters arrived and treated the three injured pedestrians, sending them by ambulance to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. All three were later treated and released.

A witness and police surveillance cameras at the intersection confirmed that the woman did use the pedestrian signal. On Saturday, police tested the signal and found it was functioning properly.

Police checked later with the family, and found that none suffered any broken bones, though all were sore as they recovered.

On Saturday, police visited the driver at his home and delivered a citation for failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

POLICE REPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1, 10:16pm, West Catawba Ave. at Harborside Drive – A 38-year-old Cornelius woman was westbound on Harborside Drive when she drove through the stop sign into the intersection at Catawba Avenue. Her car struck a second vehicle headed south on West Catawba, a 2009 Kia driven by a 51-year-old Denver man. The second car attempted to brake to avoid the collision, but was unable to stop. Police found 30 feet of skid marks. The Denver man was taken by Medic to Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville. The woman was charged with DWI. Both cars had several thousand dollars’ damage.

TUESDAY, DEC. 31, 10:55pm, intersection of Catawba Avenue and NC 115/N. Main Street – A 44-year-old Huntersville man was headed north on North Main Street when he attempted to turn left onto Catawba Avenue. His 1998 Chevrolet collided with a 20076 Toyota driven by a 50-year-old Cornelius woman. Both drivers had green lights. The Huntersville man was cited for driving without a license.

MONDAY, DEC. 30, 3:41pm, 19500 block of One Norman Blvd. – A 33-year-old man reported someone stole auto parts and accessories from his car.

MONDAY, DEC. 30, 6:49pm, 20300 block of West Catawba Ave. – A 25-year-old resident told police someone broke into his car between 6:45 and 6:49pm.

MONDAY, DEC. 30, 18800 Block of Victoria Bay Drive – A 40-year-old resident reported someone broke into her car between Dec. 29 at 6pm and Dec. 30 at 8am.

MONDAY, DEC. 30, 9:43pm, Catawba Avenue, near Saeed’s Bar & Deli – An unknown driver headed east on Catawba Avenue crossed the center line and struck a 1999 Ford driven by a 39-year-old Gastonia man. The first driver then left the scene. A witness told police he saw a male driver in a green Saturn cross the center line and strike the Ford. Police are investigating.

SATURDAY, DEC. 28, 6:30pm, Jetton Road at Old Jetton Road – A 27-year-old Cornelius man was driving south on Jetton Road toward Catawba Avenue, changed lanes, and struck a second car, a 2006 Kia driven by a 34-year-old Cornelius woman. Both cars skidded onto the median. The first driver had minor arm injury, but declined treatment. Both cars had an estimated $1,500 damage. No charges were filed. It was the second time in one day that the Cornelius woman’s car had been struck by another driver. (See next item)

SATURDAY, DEC. 28,12:52pm, West Catawba Avenue at Torrence Chapel Road – A 55-year-old Easton, PA, man was headed west on West Catawba Avenue in his 2008 Chevrolet when he merged into the right lane to turn onto Torrence Chapel. He told police he didn’t see a second car, a 2006 Kia driven by a 34-year-old Meta Road resident. The Chevy collided with the right front of the Kia, causing an estimated $2,500 damage to the Chevy and $1,000 damage to the Kia. No charges were filed.

SATURDAY, DEC. 28, 20000 One Norman Circle – A 42-year–old woman was charged with Larceny By Employees.

FRIDAY, DEC. 27,, 6:51pm, 8300 block of Camberly Road, in the Birkdale area – Police were called for a report of a break-in, and a 44-year-old resident reported that someone broke into his garage in the previous 24 hours and took two golf bags, clubs and other items valued at $1,745. Police are investigating.

FRIDAY, DEC. 27,  4:31pm, North Main St. and Catawba Avenue, Cornelius – Police and firefighters responded to a call for pedestrians struck by a vehicle. A driver heading west into the intersection from the Antiquity Cornelius neighborhood turned his Ford pickup south onto NC 115 and struck a 27-year-old Cornelius woman with two children in a stroller. The mother and her children all suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Carolinas Medical Center. The driver later told police that he was blinded by the sun as he entered the intersection, heard a thud and then hit the brakes. He was charged with failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

FRIDAY, DEC. 27, 12:46pm, Statesville Road/US 21 north of Westmoreland Road – Police charged a 29-year-old Davidson man with failure to reduce speed and possession of a controlled substance after a wreck on Statesville Road. A Cornelius driver told police that as he drove south on Statesville Road, the Davidson man came up behind him driving aggressively. The Davidson man’s 2005 Mazda struck the Cornelius man’s 2007 Honda from behind. Two passengers in the Mazda left the scene and went to Tenders Restaurant nearby. They were not located. Nobody was injured.

THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 10:40am – A resident of the 17700 block of Preston Lake Drive came to police headquarters to report that sometime between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30, a two known suspects took three quartz heaters, valued at $150, two garage door openers ($225) and one gate opener ($50). Police listed a man and woman as suspects. The case is under investigation.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24, 1:29pm – A Belle Isle Drive resident came to police headquarters to report that someone stole her $5,000 gray/silver mink fur coat from her home between Oct. 1 and Dec. 24. The case is under investigation.

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The car went through a guardrail and down an embankment on I-77 near Mile Marker 27. (Huntersville Fire Department photo)

Updated Monday, Jan. 6, 11:01am
A 26-year-old Cleveland, NC, man was killed Sunday night in a single-car crash on I-77 northbound just north of the Westmoreland Road overpass in Cornelius. The State Highway Patrol said alcohol was a factor in the 10pm wreck, which also injured a passenger.

Allen Jamar Ford, 26, of Hemlock Road in Cleveland, was thrown from the car when it left the highway, struck a guardrail and rolled down an embankment. He died in an ambulance on the way to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Police said he was not wearing his seatbelt.

A 33-year-old female passenger from Wadesboro also was injured, though less seriously. She was wearing a seatbelt.

Witnesses told the State Highway Patrol that Ford was driving north on I-77 when he attempted to pass a car on the left shoulder. He lost control of the car, veered back across the interstate and ran off the right side of the road. The car struck the guardrail, went down an embankment and overturned.

A State Highway Patrol spokesman said the woman said the two had been drinking, and alcohol was listed as contributing circumstance in the crash.

Firefighters from Cornelius and Huntersville responded along with North Meck Rescue and police.
Previous story, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, 10:48pm

1 person seriously hurt in I-77 northbound wreck

Firefighters from Cornelius and Huntersville and North Meck Rescue responded to a bad wreck on foggy I-77 northbound just north of Westmoreland Road Sunday night. At least two people were hurt, one seriously, when a car went off the road and down an embankment, according to emergency radio dispatches.

The wreck happened around 10pm at mile 26.6 of the interstate. Rescue crews on the scene said the car went off the right side of the highway and landed in the woods. One person was thrown from the car and suffered what rescue workers described as “life-threatening” injuries.

That man and another patient were being transported by ambulance to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte around 10:35pm. Rescue workers were performing CPR on the man en route to the hospital.

At 11pm, one lane was reopened on the highway but traffic was slow from about Exit 25, a Huntersville fire spokesman reported.

The State Highway Patrol was on scene investigating. No further information was available late Sunday.

Traffic was backed up on West Catawba Avenue Monday around 8:40am after a car ran off the road onto the shoulder. The narrow roadway gave no room for traffic to go around, bringing it to a standstill. (Gary Knox photo)

A car ran off West Catawba Avenue during rush hour Monday morning, backing up traffic on the road, just west of Jetton Raod. Gary Knox sent this photo around 8:40am after the car ran onto the shoulder. It was a minor accident, but the narrow roadway gave no room for traffic to go around, bringing cars to a standstill.

At Monday night’s Town Board meeting, commissioners will discuss whether to offer bond money or other town funds to help pay for the NC DOT’s West Catawba Phase II widening project. The project had been on the NC DOT’s regional priority list for funding, but changes to the state road project ranking system have created uncertainty.

The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization has asked towns to say whether they might contribute local funding to projects, in advance of the CRTPO’s Jan. 15 meeting.  See a preview of Monday’s board meeting here.

Police charged a Tennessee man with assault with a deadly weapon Jan. 5, after an altercation at the Rusty Rudder, on Henderson Road. A Cornelius man was charged with trespassing and carrying a concealed weapon after he was seen trespassing near a home on Townwood Drive Sunday. Meanwhile, two drivers had wrecks with deer on local roads over the past 10 days. Read on for those and other highlights from Cornelius Police Department incident reports.

SUNDAY, JAN. 12, 8:20pm, 21200 block of Townwood Drive – A 38-year-old Cornelius man was charged with 2nd degree trespass and carrying a concealed weapon. Police went to the address after a 911 call from a resident reporting trespassing. Police seized a 9mm Glock from the suspect.

SUNDAY, JAN. 12, 11am, 19900 Block of Vineyard Point Drive. – A resident reported the theft of a Black Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum, valued at $900. Also missing was a Mossenburg Maverick Model 88 black shotgun, valued at $250.00. Both items were discovered missing on Dec. 26.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11 4:15pm, Catawba Avenue at I-77 northbound ramp – A 45-year-old Charlotte man was cited for running a red light and expired registration after a two-vehicle wreck. The man was headed west in his 1995 Monte Carlo. A 50-year-old Cornelius driver was headed east in a 2010 Toyota, and turning onto the I-77 northbound on ramp. The Monte Carlo went through the light and struck the second as it turned. The first driver had a cut on his forehead and chest pain. He was taken by Medic to Carolinas Medical Center. A passenger in the second car also complained of pain in her head, and was taken by Medic to the hospital. Both cars had $4,000 damage.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 9:45am, West Catawba Avenue between Vineyard Point Lane and Copley Place, Kenton Place – A 35-year-old Cornelius woman was driving west on West Catawba Avenue when a deer ran out from the right shoulder. She said the deer appeared to be trying to jump over her 2004 Subaru when it struck the right front of the car, then the front windshield. The impact also crushed the car’s roof. Damages were estimated at $5,000.

FRIDAY, JAN. 10,, 6:58pm, Torrence Chapel Road at Knox Road – A 51-year-old Huntersville woman was cited for failure to obey a stop sign after a wreck at the intersection. She was headed southwest on Knox Road toward the intersection when she struck a second car driven Rio Oro Drive resident. She told police later she did not see the stop sign. Neither driver required medical attention.

FRIDAY, JAN. 10, 7:20am, 20200 Block of Biscayne Drive – A 52-year-old resident told police someone broke into her car between Thursday night and Friday morning, taken items valued at $475, including a Garmin GPS, and gift cards.

FRIDAY, JAN. 10, 3:35pm, ABC Spirits, 19701 Statesville Rd. – Two Mooresville men were charged with shoplifting. A store employee reported that two known suspects had entered the store and taken a bottle of Gentleman Jack, valued at $2.25, and a Jagermeister T-Shirt, valued at $10.

THURSDAY, JAN. 9, 1pm, Hough High School, 12420 Bailey Rd. – A school employee reported that someone stole a school laptop out of his desk sometime between Dec. 20 and Jan. 9. Value was $971.

THURSDAY, JAN. 9, 9:22am, 17200 block of Green Dolphin Lane – Police responded to a report of a break-in. A resident there reported that someone had forced entry there overnight, damaging a door and door frame. Damage was estimated at $700. Nothing was missing.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8, 9:35pm, 20200 Block of West Catawba Ave. – Police stopped a driver on West Catawba Avenue for a possible equipment violation. After a search, the car’s passenger, a 22-year-old woman from Rockwell, was found with marijuana, cocaine, a crack pipe, and hypodermic needles. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The driver fled on foot after the traffic stop and has not been located.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8, 7:50am, Blakely Shores Drive – A 68-year-old man said someone broke into his pickup truck and house trailer between 4pm Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Missing were a generator, a tool box, tools, and cash, total value of $1,575.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8, 4am, Cornelius Police Department – A 52-year-old driver for Charlotte Cab reported that a woman he had brought to Cornelius had jumped out of his cab while it was still moving and failed to pay a $138 fare. The suspect is a 27-year-old Mooresville woman.

TUESDAY, JAN. 7, 3:42pm, 19600 block of Tryon St. – A resident told police that an unknown person used her Wells Fargo credit card number to make $317.19 in purchases without her permission between Dec. 236 and Jan. 6.

MONDAY, JAN. 6, 1:20pm, Joseph’s Mart, 20832 Catawba Ave. – A 44-year-old man told police that on Friday, Jan. 3, at 11am, someone took an envelope with a $100 check from the counter of the store. Police are investigating.

SUNDAY, JAN. 5, midnight, Rusty Rudder, Henderson Road – A 46-year-old Tennessee man was arrested after a 38-year-old Mooresville man accused him of threatening him with a knife at the club. Police seized a knife and charged the Tennessee man with assault with a deadly weapon and communicating threats. He was released after posting $2,000 bond.

SATURDAY, JAN. 4, 6:30pm, Catawba Avenue at Statesville Road/US 21 – a Bayside, NY, driver headed east on Catawba Avenue in his 2006 Pontiac attempted to make a left turn into Holiday Lane. As he turned, he struck the driver’s side door of a 2008 Mitsubishi driven by a Charlotte woman. The first driver then pulled into the parking lot of Acropolis Restaurant and waited for the other vehicle to pull in. When no one showed up he left and went to the hotel nearby, where he had been planning to stay. The second driver told police she was westbound with a green light when she was hit. She said she had tried to veer to the right to avoid the crash, but couldn’t avoid it. The next thing she knew her mother was yelling for her to wake up. The New York man was cited for failure to yield the right of way. The woman and her mother were taken to Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville for examination.

SATURDAY, JAN. 4, 2:46pm, I-77 NB on ramp, at Exit 28/Catawba Ave -
A 57-year-old driver from Boomer, NC, was making a left hand turn from Catawba Avenue onto the northbound I-77 on ramp when his 2007 Chevy pickup was struck by a 2010 Ford driven by a 34-year-old Cornelius man, who had gone through a red light. A camper shell covering the bed of the truck was knocked off into the roadway, as a result of the collision. A witness confirmed that the Cornelius man had run the red light. He was charged with failure to stop for a red light. Both vehicles had several thousand dollars’ damage.

SATURDAY, JAN. 4, 1:42am, 22218 Country Club Circle – Police were called to the residence after an anonymous tip about an under age drinking party. Upon arrival, they found eight people under age 21 who had been consuming alcohol beverages. The eight, who were from Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville, all were issued citations.

FRIDAY, JAN. 3, 5:59pm, Washam Potts Road between Ruffner Drive and Coachman’s Trace – A 70-year-old Cornelius Driver told police he was westbound on Washam Potts when a deer ran across the road and hit the front right headlight of his vehicle. Damage was minor.

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Police issued security camera photos of the suspect in a robbery Saturday at the Walmart off I-485.

Huntersville Police are asking for help identifying and tracking down a man who robbed the Walmart at NC 115 near I-485 Saturday morning. Security camera photos released Wednesday show a man in dark clothing near the building entrance.

Police were called to the Walmart, at 11145 Bryton Town Center Drive, at 6:52am Saturday for a report of an armed robbery.

Employees told police a black male had entered the store wearing a black quilted-style jacket, gray pants and a brown-colored towel draped over his head.  The suspect approached a cashier, sprayed her clothing with an unknown substance and demanded cash from the registers.

The man took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the store on foot. The cashier wasn’t hurt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Huntersville Police Sgt. Randy Gardner at 704-464-5400.

RELATED COVERAGE

Jan. 15, 2014, DavidsonNews.net, Police Blotter, “Suspect charged in 2 Mooresville holdups; more traffic tickets in Davidson.”

The suspect entered the store around 6:45am.

Nobody was seriously hurt Monday when a student ran this truck into a tractor-trailer in the bus parking lot at W.A. Hough High School. Details below. (Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department photo)

Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department was unusually busy over the past week with the cold weather, running 106 calls between Monday Jan. 6 and Tuesday Jan. 14 – more than double a typical week. Of those, 45 came in a two-day span Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 7-8, when the mercury dipped into the single digits. Weather-related calls included water leaks from broken pipes, fire alarm activations, and carbon monoxide detector activations. Other calls included 9 motor vehicle accidents, 1 oven fire, and one call for smoke in Food Lion. More information about these and others below, along with a tally of this week’s medical calls.

FIRE CALLS

TUESDAY, JAN. 14, 11:54am, Magnolia Estates Dr. and W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius – firefighters responded to a vehicle accident and arrived to find 2 vehicles involved. One person was injured and was tended to be firefighters and MEDIC on scene, and was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

MONDAY, JAN. 13, 6:54pm, 17328 Caldwell Rush Cr., Cornelius – firefighters were dispatched to a possible house fire with flames visible from the oven. Upon arrival, the oven fire was contained and had been extinguished. The oven unit was damaged and the gas was cut off. The house was ventilated and the scene was cleared.

The pickup’s cab was crushed, but nobody was seriously injured in the Monday wreck at Hough. (Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department photo)

MONDAY, JAN. 13, 3:10pm, W.A. Hough High School, bus parking lot, 12420 Bailey Rd., Cornelius – Firefighters were dispatched to the school for a report of a patient with hand lacerations. On arrival, they found a wreck involving a pickup truck and a tractor trailer. The pickup suffered extensive damage to the front driver’s side cabin, but the driver miraculously suffered only minor injuries to his hands. Three other passengers were not injured. The incident left bystanders and victims “fortunate and amazed,” according to a firefighter. A Cornelius police accident report said a total of four students were in the pickup. The 16-year-old driver, who is from Davidson, told police he had just pulled out of a parking space in his 1993 Ford pickup and was making a left turn, when someone began yelling at him. As he looked back to see who it was, he struck the parked trailer.  The impact crushed the driver’s side of the cab, but nobody was seriously injured.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 4:20pm, West Catawba Ave. at I-77 southbound – Firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accident and arrived to find two vehicles involved with substantial damage. Two people were injured.  According to a police report,  a 45-year-old Charlotte man was cited for running a red light and expired registration after the wreck. The man was headed west on West Catawba in his 1995 Monte Carlo, when he went through the light and struck a 2010 Toyota driven by a 50-year-old Cornelius resident. The first driver had a cut on his forehead and chest pain. He was taken by Medic to Carolinas Medical Center. A passenger in the second car also complained of pain in her head, and was taken by Medic to the hospital. Both cars had $4,000 damage, a police report said.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 7:07am, 20152 N. Main St., Cornelius – firefighters were dispatched to a possible fire at Food Lion with smoke present in the building. Upon arrival, smoke was still visible. Firefighters searched extensively throughout the store looking for the source with a thermal imaging camera, but no source was found. The smoke was cleared from the building and no other hazards were found.

For more about last week’s flurry of cold-weather-related calls, see Jan. 8, 2014,  “Burst pipes and cold stretch fire companies to the limit”

MEDICAL CALLS

The Cornelius Fire Department responded to 34 medical calls this week. Due to privacy laws, no addresses or other information can be provided.

• Unconscious Patient – 7
• Chest Pain – 4
• Breathing Problems – 4
• Diabetic Problems – 3
• Sick Person – 3
• Stroke – 2
• Seizure – 2
• Psychiatric Problems – 2
• Falls w Injury – 2
• Overdose – 1
• Assault – 1
• Abdominal Pain – 1
• Cold Exposure – 1

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Charles Saine

A Cornelius man is facing multiple charges after police accused him of shooting at them Friday night as they responded to a report of a domestic dispute at his home on Peninsula Cove Lane.

Police were called to 18724 Peninsula Cove Lane around 11pm Friday to check on an alleged domestic assault where a suspect had struck his wife. As the woman met officers outside the home, someone inside fired a shot toward them. Police rushed woman away from the scene, and two more shots were fired in their direction.

Silence followed, and police learned two young children were still in an upstairs bedroom at the house.

A Special Response Team was called to the scene, and police attempted to contact the man, without success. The team broke into the house and after a brief scuffle arrested the him. He had a minor head injury during the arrest and was taken to a hospital for treatment, then transferred to Mecklenburg County Jail.

The woman and children and police officers were not hurt.

Charles McKinley Saine, 41, was charged with assaulting a female, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, discharging a firearm in the town limits and four counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer. He was released on $23,000 bond and is due in court on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Davidson and Mooresville police also assisted.

The Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department responded to 52 calls this week including an outside fire along the interstate, a smoke investigation inside an apartment, and mutual aid with Cornelius PD for an assault in the Peninsula area Saturday. The department also burned  a house on Green Dolphin Lane for training Saturday. Read on for more about these calls and others, along with a tally of this week’s medical calls.

FIRE CALLS

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15, 11:11am, 18695 Vineyard Point Ln., Cornelius – firefighters were dispatched to a possible structure fire with smoke in an apartment building. Upon arrival, smoke was found throughout the unit. After a thorough investigation with a thermal imaging camera, the source was determined to be a faulty HVAC unit. The system was shut down and the owners were advised to contact a repairman.

SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 12:11am, 18423 John Connor Rd., Cornelius – Firefighters were dispatched to assist Cornelius PD with an assault nearby. Firefighters staged for more than an hour awaiting police department clearance. Two patients were checked for injuries and released to MEDIC. (See related story, Jan. 18, 2014, “Man charged with shooting at police, assault”)

SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 16501 Green Dolphin Ln., Cornelius – Cornelius firefighters along conducted a training fire throughout the morning and early afternoon. They were assisted by some firefighters from Huntersville, Mt. Holly, and Long Creek fire departments.

MONDAY, JAN. 20, 3:13pm, 20430 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius – firefighters responded to a small dumpster fire behind Gold’s Gym. The fire was quickly extinguished and no other hazards were found.

MEDICAL CALLS

The Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department responded to 31 medical calls this week. Due to privacy laws, no addresses or other information can be provided.

• Citizen Assist – 7
• Unconscious Patient – 5
• Seizure – 4
• Breathing Problems – 3
• Falls w Injury – 3
• Stroke – 2
• Diabetic Problems – 2
• Psychiatric Patient – 1
• Lacerations – 1
• Man down – 1
• Choking – 1
• Overdose – 1

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Cornelius Police last week were called to a Catawba Avenue pawn shop, where they found a stolen AK-47 assault rifle that had been traded for cash. Meanwhile, on Monday, officers patrolling on Long Pond Lane arrested two high school students on drug-related charges after finding them parked on the street. Read on for details about those and other recent incidents, including car breaking and wrecks.

POLICE REPORTS, FEB. 10-17

MONDAY, FEB. 17,, 8:14am, 19000 block of Long Pond Lane, Heritage Green – Police were patrolling in the neighborhood when they came upon a 1998 Ford Explorer parked on the side of the road. An investigation found two known suspects, both Hough High School students, in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The tow men, a 17-year-old from Cornelius and an 18-year-old from Huntersville, were charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting, obstructing or delaying a public officer.

SUNDAY, FEB. 16, 8:49pm, police headquarters – A 42-year-old Huntersville woman told police that between noon and 3pm that afternoon an unknown suspect took her son`s green iPhone 5C, valued at approximately $600, while he was attending a wrestling tournament at Hough High School on Bailey Road.

SUNDAY, FEB. 16, noon, 16300 block of Belle Isle Drive – An officer patrolling in the area saw a black Border Collie-mix dog attack a 65-year-old man as he was running in the cul-da-sac. The man was not hurt, but the bite tore his pans. The dog’s owner was issued a Town Warning Citation.

FRIDAY, FEB. 14, 4:44pm, 8400 Block Westmoreland Lake Drive – A resident reported that around 4:30, a silver pickup struck a mailbox and a parked motor vehicle at her house, and left the scene. The total estimated damage from the hit and run was estimated at $1,600.

SUNDAY, FEB. 16, 6:38pm, North Main Street between McCall and Pecan streets – A 53-year-old Cornelius woman was headed south when she struck a dog that ran out in front of her 2009 Chevy. A report said the car had $400 damage. No mention was made of the dog.

TUESDAY, FEB. 12,, 11am, Memories Pawn Shop, 21348 Catawba Ave. – An employee told police that around 10:40am that morning, a known suspect came into the store and sold a stolen AK-47 Assault Rifle. The suspect signed a receipt stating that the AK-47 assault rifle was his and was not stolen. The store paid $200 cash for the stolen weapon. Police are investigating and listed a 25-year-old Mooresville man as a suspect.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 2:12pm, West Catawba Ave., between One Norman Blvd. an Knox Road – A 30-year-old driver from Charlotte drove his 2010 Nissan into the rear of a 2003 Honda driven by a 56-year-old Cornelius woman. The first drive told police he looked down at some papers and ran into the rear of the second car, which was waiting to turn. The first driver was cited for driving while license revoked and failure to reduce speed.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 9:45am, 20100 block, Norman Colony Rd. – A resident reported a car break-in that happened sometime between Monday at 6pm and Tuesday at 8:45am. Someone broke into his 2008 gray Mini Cooper and took a black computer briefcase and laptop ($600), his birth certificate and passport. Total estimated value of items taken is $680.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 9:06am, Cooke Rentals, 18518 Statesville Road – The manager told police that between Monday at 5pm and Tuesday at 9am, an unknown suspect(s) attempted to gain entry to a storage building by breaking the door handle and door frame, valued at approximately $75.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 8:50am, 18400 block of Victoria Bay Dr. – A resident reported than someone damaged her garage door between 7:50 and 8:50 am. The lower one-third of the door was caved in causing approximately $500 in damage. Police are investigating.

MONDAY, FEB. 10, 1:51pm, 18300 block of Mainsail Pointe Dr. – A resident told police that someone he knows took his Samsung tablet from his residence without permission. Value was $250.

MONDAY, FEB. 10, 8:36am, UHaul, 9208 Westmoreland Road – An employee told police that a known suspect failed to return a 17-foot UHaul rental truck Sunday, Feb. 9, at 8am, as agreed. The 2009 Ford truck is valued at $5,000.

MONDAY, FEB. 10, 8:07am, 20600 block of Bethel Church – A resident reported break-ins of his Cadillac Escalade and Land Rover, between Feb. 4 and 5. Missing were an iPod Touch and a Samsung tablet, total value $410.

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Updated Thursday, Feb. 20
HUNTERSVILLE – Huntersville police are looking for suspects in the Wednesday night shooting death of a 19-year-old Cornelius man at The Landings at Northcross apartments, off I-77 Exit 25, east of Birkdale Village.

Police were called to 16916 Landings Drive, Apt. G, at 6:06pm for a report of a gunshot victim. They found Peter Michael Jordan, 19, with multiple gunshot wounds.

Once police secured the scene, a Medic unit treated Jordan without success, and he died.

Police say they have witnesses and are searching for suspects, but have given few details.

“At this time we are withholding the victim’s address at the wishes of the family who have asked for privacy during this time of grieving,” Huntersville police said in a report Thursday morning.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Huntersville Police at 704-464-5400 or North Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers at 704-896-7867.

Police planned a press conference Thursday afternoon to discuss the case further.

Earlier: Fatal shooting reported at Huntersville apartments

Posted Feb. 19, 10:04pm

Huntersville police are investigating a fatal shooting Wednesday night at The Landings at Northcross apartments, off I-77 Exit 25, east of Birkdale Village.

Police say they have witnesses and are searching for suspects, but have given few details.

WBTV reported that the victim was a man.

In postings on Facebook and Twitter, Mayor Jill Swain also commented on the fatal shooting. “We are saddened at the loss of life, grateful to our police officers for their professionalism,” she said on Twitter.

We’ll have more when it becomes available …

CHARLOTTE - A 55-year-old Charlotte driver died Thursday morning when she collided head-on with a pickup truck on Eastfield Road in north Charlotte.

Avis Gray Gabbert died when her eastbound 2004 GMC Envoy crossed the center line on a curve and slammed into the oncoming 1997 Ford pickup. The wreck happened around 5:45am just west of Loganville Drive, near Helens Lane.

Two passengers in the pickup were taken to Carolinas Medical Center with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Gabbert was pronounced dead at the scene by MEDIC at 5:48am. Police said neither alcohol nor speed appeared to be factors in the crash.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Major Crash Investigation Unit is investigating. Any witnesses are asked to call Detective Andrew Oberer at 704-432-2169.