The Mint Hill Times

The Town of Mint Hill could end up footing the bill for a new School Resource Officer at Rocky River High School, as well as a juvenile detective if the Board of Commissioners approve Police Chief Tim Ledford’s request for the positions.

Chief Ledford

Ledford presented his case to the board at its first budget workshop a week ago before and after its regularly scheduled meeting. Each head of town departments outlined to the board its needs for the next fiscal year. Mayor Ted Biggers was unable to attend to the workshop.
Ledford said Rocky River High School has seen 56 arrests as of February 7 of this year. Only Vance High School had more arrests in the same time period. Rocky River, because it is a first-year school, does not have a senior class. The school could grow by at least 500 students next year.
Other schools in CMS with high arrest rates like Vance have three School Resource Officers. Because of budget cuts, Rocky River was assigned only one. Mint Hill Police currently have to send one of their own officers to the school when an arrest needs to be made. They then have to transport the student to the jail in downtown Charlotte. Ledford estimated the trip to Charlotte takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, not counting the time they spend at the school.
Welch told the board that because most of the visits to Rocky River occurred Monday through Friday—an off peak time for the police—it hasn’t caused too many disruptions for the police. However, if the SRO at Rocky River calls in sick, then a Mint Hill Police officer has to go to the school.
Commissioners were concerned about the high arrest rate and use of police resources.
“Chief, that’s not fair,” Commissioner Mickey Ellington said. “They (CMS) want our money and police, but don’t want anything to do with us.” Continue reading »

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Mint Hill Police were dispatched to Stoney Glen Drive on two separate occasions last week. The street is a part of the apartment development at the corner of Margaret Wallace Road and Idlewild Road.

On March 21, a man reported being robbed by five black males, all with handguns. The men ranged from 18-21 years old according to the victim. He told the police the men patted him down, took his wallet, then told him to run the opposite direction. The suspects left on foot in an unknown direction.

The victim described the men as medium build and about 5 foot 9 inches.

Officers circulated the area and were unable to locate the suspects. Please contact Mint Hill Police at 704-545-1085 or Police Dispatch at 704-889- 2231 with any information on this incident.

In an unrelated incident on March 22, police were dispatched to the same apartment complex for a reported fight between two women.

From the report:

Upon arrival two females were engaged in a physical altercation at the location and police were able to separate the parties.
It was found that both parties received injuries during the altercation and one of the females had been stabbed with a knife at the location. Both females were transported to separate hospitals with non-life threatening injuries and have both been charged with the following crimes:
Daija Shaw (B-F-20) Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury;

Nioka Combs (B-F-30) Assault
Any further questions contact Mint Hill Police at 704-545-1085 (office) or 704-889-2231 (dispatch).

A harrowing day for one Mint Hill man could have larger repercussions for owners of pit bulls in the community. Bill Williamson, who lives on Dan Hood Road, suffered a heart attack last Friday as he confronted the owner of two pit bulls that were attacking a horse on Williamson’s property.
Williamson, 63, said he was told by Mint Hill Police that his heart had stopped and he had no pulse just before the police applied Automated External Defibrillator pads and resuscitated him.
“Without them, I would be dead,” Williamson said of the police.
Williamson, who had triple-bypass surgery just 10 months ago, said this is the second time the two pit bulls have attacked the horse on his pasture. On January 22, he said he walked out into the pasture and noticed the two dogs were hanging by the horses legs. He called Mint Hill Police and Mecklenburg Animal Control, but by the time they had arrived, the dogs had already returned to their owners property. Because of this, Animal Control said they could not do anything about the dogs or the owner.
“I think there’s something horrendously wrong with our laws,” Williamson said later. “That human beings have to live in fear of someone else’s pets.” Continue reading »

View Larger MapMint Hill Police need your help as they investigate a fatal accident last night on Matthews-Mint Hill Road in front of the Wendy’s. At 6 pm last night, a motorcycle collided with a car that was attempting to make a left out of Evans Road onto Matthews Mint Hill Road. The motorcyclist was thrown form the bike and into oncoming traffic where he was struck again.

The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene.  Mint Hill Police along with the CMPD H.I.T.S Unit are investigating the crash.  Officers are in the process of notifying the next of kin.

Mint Hill Police believe that there were several vehicles that may have been in the right turn lane on southbound Matthews-Mint Hill Road turning onto Evans Road just prior to the collision.  They would like to speak with anyone that may have witnessed the collision.  If you have any information call the dispatch center at 704-889-2231 and leave your name and phone number and someone will call you back.

The driver of the motorcycle is a 41 year old male from Mint Hill.  The circumstances are still under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.  It is not known if alcohol played a part in the crash.