Captain Hosey, Landis Police Department, Landis, N.C.

♦ Captain Hosey of the Landis Police reports: “Yesterday Landis Police charged Casey Ayala, 17, of Flat Rock Road and Justin Johnson, 17, of Cannon Farm Road, each with 13 counts of breaking and Entering into a motor vehicle, 1 count of felony larceny of a motor vehicle, 1 felony count of larceny of financial transaction cards, and several counts of misdemeanor larceny. Today a third man, Christopher Huffman, 20, of Cloverfield Drive, was arrested and faces similar charges.

Ayala and Johnson were each ordered held under a $30,000 secured bond. Huffman’s bond was set at $150,000.

The trio are charged with burglarizing a series of vehicles on the East side of Landis early Wednesday morning. The vehicles were spread across the entire length of Town, beginning near Sprinkler Drive and ending near the Oaks of Landis.

Apparently too exhausted from the burglaries to walk home, the suspects stole a 2015 Freightliner dump truck from the construction site at the Kimball Road underpass, which they parked near Johnson’s residence on Cannon Farm Road.

Police recovered the truck, along with most of the stolen property. At the time of arrest, one of men had the key to the stolen dump truck in his possession.

Every vehicle that was burglarized was unlocked. We kindly remind residents to lock your car doors and not to leave valuables in your vehicles.

Sergeant Young was the investigating officer in this case and pulled it together quickly with support from our patrol officers with the assistance of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. Congratulations officers on a job well done!”

RFP Staff

♦ According to Rowan County Sheriff Office sources deputies arrested Alice Rae Frankenberg, 39, of Pence Road in Charlotte and Leslie Lynn Griffin, 41,  of Kannapolis Wednesday morning after a vehicle stop on the 3400 block of N. Enochville Avenue near the intersection of Deal Road in Mooresville.  A car search allegedly turned up quantities of controlled substances schedule II, VI, III and drug paraphernalia (heroin, marijuana, etc.)

The 3400 block of North Enochville Avenue and Deal Road in Mooresville:

Alice Rae Frankenberg:

Leslie Lynn Griffin:

Frankenberg was charged with possession of controlled substance Schedule II (felony), possession with intent to manufacture/sell/distribute controlled substance II (felony), possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor), possession of controlled substance Schedule VI (misdemeanor), possession of controlled substance III, and possession of controlled substance II (misdemeanor). Under a secured $75,000 bond, she was held in the Rowan County Detention Center until her release on bond.

Griffin was charged with possession of controlled substance Schedule II (felony), possession with intent to manufacture/sell/distribute controlled substance II (felony), possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor), possession of controlled substance Schedule VI (misdemeanor), possession of controlled substance III, possession of controlled substance II (misdemeanor) and maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for a controlled substance (felony) . Under a secured $100,000 bond, she was held in the Rowan County Detention Center until her release on bond.

Alice Rae Frankenberg’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1205903&searchLastName=frankenberg&searchFirstName=Alice&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Leslie Lynn Griffin’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0859465&searchLastName=Griffin&searchFirstName=Leslie&searchMiddleName=l&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

**This article will be updated when new information arrives.**

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♦ According to Rowan County Sheriff Office sources deputies arrested David Michael Fisher, 42, of the 500 block of East Cemetery Street in Salisbury on Friday morning on alleged sex crimes with children.

The 500 block of East Cemetery Street in Salisbury, N.C.:

David Michael Fisher:

Fisher was charged with first degree statutory rape (felony) and indecent liberties with children (felony). Under a secured $300,000 bond, he remains on the Rowan County Detention Center.

David Michael Fisher’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1363680&searchLastName=fisher&searchFirstName=david&searchMiddleName=m&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

**This article will be updated when new information arrives.**

RFP Staff

♦ According to sources in Salisbury’s City Hall the city administration will undergo another reorganization effective Monday, September 19th.  Assistant City Mangers Zach “the Axe” Kyle and John “Magic Math” Sofley will assume new duties.  Kyle, who already manages human resources and the planning departments, will add parks and recreation and engineering to his assignments.

Sofley, who currently leads public services, transit, and telecommunications, will add the management of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities. (water and sewer AKA the city’s “cash cow”)

City Manager Lane Bailey is charged with administration, communications, finance, police, fire, information technology, and the city’s municipal broadband Fibrant.

Recently it was learned from city sources that Kent Winrich, the city’s former director of Fibrant and infrastructure services who resigned on August 24th, was provided a “separation package” of $14,790.  (six weeks of pay totaling $12,690 and $2,100 in accrued vacation pay).  He allegedly signed a non-disclosure agreement.

COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA For Tuesday September 20th at 5 P.M.

1. Invocation to be given by Councilmember Miller.
2. Call to order.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Recognition of visitors present.
5. Mayor to proclaim the following observances:
CONSTITUTION WEEK September 17-23, 2016
EVERY DAY IS MEDICATION TAKE-BACK
DAY IN THE CITY OF SALISBURY September 20, 2016
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN
AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE DAY September 24, 2016
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH September 2016
MILITARY AND VETERAN CAREGIVER CITY September 2016
6. Council to recognize Sergeant Corey Brooks, Corporal Matt Benjamin, Officer Mike Dishman,
Officer Anthony Mason, Officer Mark McDaniel, and Officer Rita Rule for presentation of
Lifesaving Awards.
7. Council to consider the CONSENT AGENDA:
(a) Adopt a Budget ORDINANCE amendment to the FY2016-2017 budget in the amount
of $906,413 to the General Fund and $32,099,327 to the Fibrant Communications Fund
to appropriate funds from the refinancing of Certificates of Participation debt.
(b) Approve the appointment of Krista Osterweil as Chairman and Mark Lewis as ViceChairman
for the Salisbury Tourism and Cultural Development Commission.
8. Council to receive a presentation regarding the 2016 Salisbury Police Department GREAT
camps for incoming Knox Middle School students.
9. Council to receive a report and hold a public hearing regarding the 2015-2106 Consolidated
Annual Planning and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Community Development Block Grant
and HOME Program funds:
(a) Receive a presentation from staff
(b) Hold a public hearing

COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA – PAGE 2 – SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
10. Council to consider Land Development District Map amendment Z-02-2016, to correctively
rezone properties located at 725 West Kerr Street, 815 West Kerr Street and 519 Best Street:
(a) Receive a presentation from staff
(b) Hold a public hearing
(c) Issue a Statement of Consistency and Statement of Reasonableness and consider
adopting an ORDINANCE to rezone the subject properties.
11. Council to consider adopting an ORDINANCE amending Chapter 14 (Nuisances) of the
Salisbury City Code related to nuisance abatement actions on properties held in foreclosure
proceedings, estate probate, or other conditions that render the property under no immediate, or
unknown, control.
12. Council to receive a presentation from Rowan Works and Downtown Salisbury, Inc. regarding
economic development strategies.
13. Council to consider appointing additional members to the Comprehensive Plan Steering
Committee.
14. Council to consider making appointments to various boards and commissions.
15. Council to receive public comment. Public comment will be opened at approximately 6:00
p.m. or at the end of the meeting, whichever comes first..
16. City Manager’s Comments.
17. Mayor’s Announcements.
(a) Salisbury Parks and Recreation will host Music at the Mural Saturday, September 24,
2016 at 8:00 p.m. on West Fisher Street. The concert will feature live entertainment
from Big Break. Bring a chair and enjoy music in the heart of Downtown Salisbury.
This event is free and open to the public.
(b) The “Meet with the Manager” meetings have been moved to the first Monday of the
month and the next meeting will be held Monday, October 3 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00
a.m. in the first floor conference room at City Hall, 217 South Main Street. This is an
open office hour for citizens to share their ideas or concerns regarding City services
with the City Manager.
(c) Applications for the 2016-2017 Historic Preservation Incentive Grants are now
available. These matching grants are available on a competitive basis for exterior
projects on owner-occupied houses in the four residential local historic districts: North
Main Street, Brooklyn South Square, West Square and Ellis Street Graded School.
Applications are due by October 14, 2016. To receive an application or inquire about
eligibility, please call 704-638-5324.
(d) The Police Department, in collaboration with the Salisbury Housing Authority, has
changed the meeting schedule for the Salisbury Neighborhood Action Group (SNAG)
in an effort to develop greater input and information sharing with the community. The
meetings will rotate between the Police Department at 10:00 a.m. and Brenner Crossing
Apartments Community Room at 6:00 p.m. The October meeting will be held at the
Police Department at 10:00 a.m., and the November meeting will be held at Brenner
Crossing Apartments at 6:00 p.m. Meetings will continue to alternate between the two
locations and times.
18. Adjourn.

RFP Staff

♦ Video: Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education Work Session on Monday, September 12th:

The Editor and our friends in area law enforcement

♦ This article would not be possible without the assistance of persons, active or retired from area law enforcement, whose considerable wealth of knowledge and experience helped shed light on the all too common practice of fudging crime statistics to make a city appear far safer than it actually is. Officers who care and abide by high ethical standards will always step up.

There are numerous ways for the Salisbury Police Department and other such agencies alter their FBI crime Statistics under pressure to make their municipalities look good.  The need to appear less plagued by crime, especially in municipalities overwhelmed by violent and property crime like Salisbury, gets driven by economic realities and the need to keep and attract residents. When persons experience a lack of safety they move away from cities if they have the economic wherewithal. Economic development draws to a standstill in cities under siege–businesses don’t come to or start up in high crime municipalities. Real estate values plummet as people move away. Vacant and abandoned houses and buildings grow in number. Higher paying jobs disappear.  Poverty mushrooms.

“There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Mark Twain. Had Mark lived in Salisbury he might’ve said: “If no report is filed, no statistics exist.”

Salisbury, N.C. and the FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

Like thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide, Salisbury uses the F.B.I. Uniform Crime Report (UCR) guidelines for filing crime reports. These are the standard for several decades. The UCR consists of Part One and Part Two offenses. The more serious crimes are in Part One and less serious are Part Two. Information gathered in police reports, using the UCR guidelines, is forwarded to the F.B.I. for inclusion in their database.

It’s not uncommon for law enforcement agencies to “fudge” some on crime report classifications. For example, an aggravated assault may be reported as simple assault. Or a burglary, if not much was stolen, may be reported as vandalism. Officers have a bit of discretion in filing crime reports. Example: a mentally disturbed individual reports being assaulted by extra-galactic aliens. Of course such reports never get filed. The bottom line is the UCR guidelines are quite clear about when a report should be filed and how it should be classified.

Sometimes law enforcement agencies may go from one extreme to another. Instead of minimizing crime reports, they may escalate them. Example: Some federal grant money becomes available for combatting arson crimes. Suddenly every kid playing with matches is an “arsonist.” The subsequent increase in arson reports may help an agency qualify for grant money.

A serious problem in many jurisdictions is unreported crime. Any town with a serious drug epidemic is going to have a lot of unreported crime. Addicts and their dealers constantly victimize each other and they don’t usually file police reports. But the crimes still occurred. If a victim doesn’t come forward not a whole lot that can be done. What we hope never happens is that officers will just stop taking crime reports. When it occurs it is due to administrative negligence or possibly even encouragement by police command personnel. It is also possible that such negligence or encouragement could arrive right out of city hall. After all, wouldn’t a city’s crime statistics appear good if no reports get filed?

Here are many of the common methods employed to underreport crime:

Classify a breaking and entering as misdemeanor larceny.

Alter estimates on stolen property, reduced value can drop the incident from a felony to a misdemeanor

Portray injuries as less serious to reduce an aggravated felony assault to simple misdemeanor assault.

Classify a stolen vehicle to misdemeanor unauthorized use of conveyance (a charge typically meant for a teenager “joy-riding” in a car with no intent to permanently deprive owner of the vehicle)

Classify murder as suicide.

Classify robbery as larceny to reduce violent crime.

Classify a sexual assault as an assault on female (misdemeanor) or a non-violent sexual offense such as statutory rape

A deliberate use of motor vehicle as a weapon to intentionally strike another can be reported on DMV 349 as a simple crash, with no criminal intent.

Classify any Part I offense to Part II. Part II offenses are not tracked like Part I and will not have same impact on reported criminal activity It’s obviously to a department’s benefit if a crime is “possession of stolen goods” as opposed to the actual Part I offense of larceny. Similarly, a break-in reported as a vandalism drops from Part I to Part II.

The majority of serious criminal activity has lesser misdemeanor charges that are similar but meant for lesser acts. Assaults can range from 1st degree murder to assault with deadly weapons inflicting serious injury to simple affray (public fighting) Each level is intended to provide greater punishment for more serious criminal acts, but unfortunately, they also provide a “step-back” for a less honest chief to downgrade his reported numbers.

The second, and far more serious way to effect numbers, is plain refusal to take reports of crime. This can be done by claiming the reporting party is mistaken/dishonest or that a crime which occurred inside an agencies jurisdiction occurred elsewhere. Another method is to “take” a report from the victim on-scene and never file it.

Part one offenses are: homicide, rape (which includes sexual offenses such as non-consentual oral or anal sexual acts), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson

Part two offenses include: simple assaults, forgery, fraud, embezzlement, possession of stolen property, vandalism, weapons violations, non-forcible sexual offenses (such as prostitution), drug abuse, gambling, non-violent offenses against family, DWI and other traffic offenses, liquor laws, and all other offenses.

https://ucr.fbi.gov/

Background on UCR – it’s all derived from the information agencies submit either directly or to the state which then forwards it.

Rabbi Will McCubbins, China Grove, NC

♦ It appears the chickens finally came home to roost for Salisbury, N.C. this week when within a six day stretch the citizens learned they had close to 2,000 vacant and abandoned houses within the city limits in a town of 14,000 houses and achieved superstardom of sorts when areavibes.com made Salisbury the 442nd ranked city/town in North Carolina.

Salisbury has it all: The Fibrant debacle losing over $3 Million a year, 27.2% of its residents are dwelling in poverty, a police department, existing mostly on paper, while us county taxpayers have to fork over $100 grand to pay for the Sherriff’s Office to patrol violence-ridden Salisbury. All this because the city irresponsibly blew their money on one the biggest losers in the history of municipal broadband.

On top of all that crime is through the roof with shooting, robberies, and unsolved murders and the characters running the Salisbury Police are alleged to be “tinkering” with the FBI stats.

People are fleeing the Dodge City of the Piedmont in increasing numbers and are unloading their houses at a loss if they are not abandoning them out right. They’d like to live another day without being bullet-riddled or having a knifepoint come out of their back.

All four of the public schools within the city limits received D letter grades on the N.C. Department of Education’s Report Card.

There’s talk of toxic hexavalent chromium in the city’s water.  Will the city cover that up like everything else in the astounding “City of Make Believe”?

And now we’re hearing the alleged Empire Hotel project slated for $20,000,000 is likely just another DSI, Inc. “bargain for time” like all the other yarns over the years that developers were pouring into the Bury wild-eyed with excitement to bring the Queen of the South Main Badlands back to life.  The hurdles the developer named were many and huge and the project wouldn’t be shovel ready for two years.

Does it get any worse than this?  Even the most rabid true believers in Downtown Salisbury must be reassessing what is going on in their Municipal Service District.

I have to hand it to Councilman David Post for bringing some semblance of transparency to Salisbury’s city hall when he told city council about Fibrant’s immense losses and then told city council there were 2,000 vacant and abandoned houses within the city.

The city of Salisbury is not the only practitioner of the “Fake It Until You Make It”.  County Commission Chair Greg Edds is a major booster of the “Fake It Until You Make It” philosophy that doomed Salisbury to the trash pit.  Here’s Mr. Edds’ quote on Facebook from the other day.  Click on the image below to enlarge:

Rah-Rah-Rah-Sis-BOOM-Bah! SHOTZBURY! SHOTZBURY! SHOTZBURY!

Todd Paris, Staff Writer and Salisbury Attorney

♦ Failing Fibrant and the Police Department are Salisbury City Hall’s two largest problems. Fibrant is loosing now slightly less than 10K per day and the recent partings of Kent Winrich (Director) and Adam Shepard (Sales Manager) are probably indicative of a failure to meet a previously set departmental goal. My educated guess is that it was a sales goal.

As revealed by Chief “this is not a gang related shooting” Stokes at a press conference, SPD is down at least 14 officers from the already Fibrant depleted staff from a once proud and fully functioning department which once numbered 107 employees in 2007. They can now probably field somewhere around seventy. I have spoken to SPD officers who are exhausted from pulling a shift, going to court and then having to report back to duty within 4 hours for the next shift. They often are barely able to make “minimum staffing” and do so only with super human sacrifice from our brave officers.

After the Kenny Lane wrongful termination debacle, Salisbury no doubt has serious and substantial problems recruiting. It was clear from ex Chief Collin’s deposition in Lane vs. City of Salisbury that the Salisbury Chief has no real authority over hiring and firing and that Zack and Ruth “down at Human Resources” are calling the shots and that those “shots” may well end one’s law enforcement career not just here, but everywhere. The Fibrant-reduced low salaries were already creating problems back in 2014 when my wife went through RCCC Basic Law Enforcement Training. Few new officers wanted to work at SPD even then. Crime? Don’t get me started…

Lane Bailey has basically given the department heads who were reporting directly to him to Assistant City Managers – John Sofley and Zack Kyle. Lane no longer has to meet and ask if those departments are working on their work plan or make sure they are making departmental goals. In exchange, Fibrant and SPD are completely on his shoulders.

Basically, it’s just a change in hierarchy that frees up Lane’s time to work on the PD and Fibrant, which are abysmal wreckages. I bet city council is getting incredible amount of heat and has decided to make sure that Lane has enough time to face those huge problem areas.

Our city manager is now “in the cross-hairs” politically. Good luck; being “over” Fibrant is scary thing unless you are “Teflon John Sofley” who always manages to survive somehow. Perhaps being able to perform “Magic Math” has its privileges.

If I were Lane Bailey, I would get some resumes out. Maybe the three “parted” ex Fibrant managers will give him a recommendation. Fibrant can not succeed because the numbers do not and never have “worked.” As far as SPD goes, nothing short of raising taxes, salaries and numbers, and firing Ruth Kennerly and Zack Kyle and returning H-R to an appellate board that just reviews the Chief’s personnel decisions will begin turn SPD around.

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♦ East Innes Street Waffle House is no longer a victimization zone. You can pack.

Readers may remember my article of December 31 where I revealed that our own “Casa De Waffle,” apparently in response to a window being shot out, posted a sign in the door that stated “NO WEAPONS ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY.” As a CCW holder in “Shotzbury,” the idea of sitting unarmed at night in a brightly lit glass box with one door in and one door out prompted the article and my personal boycott. You will find it here:

New Signage on the East Innes Salisbury, N.C. Waffle House: NO WEAPONS ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY

Tonight Kittah and I awoke elevenish from a nap and I remembered I had not consumed grub since noon. I was ravenous. Christo’s being closed at that hour, I struck out for East Innes’s burger row and soon I came upon the Waffle House. I wistfully remembered those trips to California where Robyn and I would drive all night in shifts and how much I appreciated those late night “Huddle House” and “Waffle House” stops. The food was always reliable and clean and nothing beats smothered and peppered hash browns and a few strong cups of coffee before you hit those vast empty desert stretches of I-40.

I decided to pull in, just in case, and “lo and behold” the ACCURSED SIGN WAS GONE.

Even though it’s not on my diet for my type two diabetes, I was overcome with joy and hunger and soon found myself sitting at the corner booth (facing the door) devouring a double cheese burger and succulent smothered, peppered and scattered hash-browns. Of course, my handy Glock 24 9mm pistol was snugly inside my pocket holster.

The food was all the more better for the fact that my survivability was enhanced at least in the short term. Hopefully an extra Metformin pill and a trip tomorrow to the Y would alleviate the long term harm from this repast.

I don’t know if my previous article had any small affect on their profits since last New Years Eve, however, just in case, I wanted to announce that to CCW holders that THE WAFFLE HOUSE IS NO LONGER A VICTIMIZATION ZONE. Go by and visit. Your hash-browns are sizzling on the grill.

RFP Staff

♦ Rowan County Commission Meets Monday September 19th at 6 P.M. at 130 W. Innes Street in Salisbury, N.C.

ROWAN COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA

Call to Order

Invocation

• Provided By: Chaplain Michael Taylor

Pledge of Allegiance

Consider Additions to the Agenda

Consider Deletions From the Agenda

Consider Approval of the Agenda

Board members are asked to voluntarily inform the Board if any matter on the agenda might present a conflict of interest or might require the member to be excused from voting.

• Consider Approval of the Minutes: September 6, 2016

1 Consider Approval of Consent Agenda

A. Resolution Allowing Retiring Officer (Ricky Vanhoy) to Purchase Service Sidearm
B. Set Public Hearing for October 3, 2016 For FY’18 Community Transportation Grant
C. RCHD Dental Grants
D. Refunds for Approval
E. MV Transportation Contract Renewal
F. Consider Approval of FSW 01-16
G. Grant Request for One Church One Child
H. Task Order 2016/17-01 HDR General Services
I. Request to Accept Grant for Regional 911 Backup Center
J. Task Orders for Health Dept. and Detention Center Roofing System Replacements
K. Termination of Lease With Payless Shoe Source
L. Phase II Part 2 Re-Roofing of West End Plaza
M. Consider Authorization for Vehicle Replacement

2 Public Comment Period

3 Quasi-judicial Hearing for CUP 07-16
4 Quasi-judicial Hearing for PCUR 03-16
5 Public Hearing & Initial Economic Impact Study Presentation – EDC “Project F2”
6 Public Hearing for Proposed Revisions to Chapter 5 (Animals) of the Rowan County Code of Ordinances
7 Consider Approval of Rockwell EMS Station Bids
8 Financial Report
9 Budget Amendments

10 Adjournment

Complete Agenda Information Materials:

http://agenda.rowancountync.gov/DisplayAgendaPDF.ashx?MeetingID=197

Citizens with disabilities requiring special needs to access the services or public meetings of Rowan County Government should contact the County Manager’s Office three days prior to the meeting by calling (704) 216-8180.

RFP Staff

♦ Sources in the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office report that Maxton Nathaniel Kelly, 21, of Park Avenue in Granite Quarry, was held up at gunpoint Friday at around 4 p.m. on the 100 block of Andrews Ford Road in Salisbury.  Kelly gave up an Apple I Phone 6, $100 in cash, and a wallet.  His wallet and cell phone were later found and returned, however the robber kept the cash.

The 100 block of Andrews Ford Road is a high crime area and frequent arrests are made at the mobile home at 128 Andrews Ford Road.

At this time no arrests were made. The crime remains under investigation.

The 100 Block of Andrews Ford Road in Salisbury:

If anyone knows about this crime they are asked to call the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700. If you fear retribution, want to remain anonymous and possibly collect an award of up to $1,000, information can be submitted 24/7 via the web: http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org/ or by calling the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

**This article will be updated as more information arrives.**

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♦  According to sources in the Salisbury Police Jamie Jerico Horton, 24, a Salisbury felon, was arrested early Saturday morning at 1331 West Bank Street for allegedly drawing a gun on an unidentified victim.  No injuries were reported.

Horton was charged with assault by pointing a gun (misdemeanor) and weapon possession by a felon firearms prohibited (felony). Under a secured $25,000 bond, he remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Jamie Jerico Horton:

Jamie Jerico Horton’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1214551&searchLastName=Horton&searchFirstName=Jamie&searchMiddleName=j&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

**This article will be updated as more information arrives.**

Kenny Hardin, Salisbury City Councilman

♦ I enjoyed a very informative breakfast meeting and discussion this morning attended by Mayor Karen Alexander, Police Chief Jerome Stokes, and City Manager Lane Bailey.

We engaged in great candid and open conversation on several topics impacting our City. We delved deep into analysis, both long term and current, and discussed strategies each felt were relevant in addressing and resolving the issues. I appreciated the receptiveness of everyone around the table in being willing to listen to criticism without defensiveness.

We touched heavily on the lack of trust and communication between the Police and the Black community, public perception of the City, openness and transparency, identifying strong leadership in the community, increased community accountability, working effectively with community-based organizations, ensuring diversity and inclusion in the PD, better community engagement, offering a better understanding of the prosecutorial process to citizens, the continual shootings and gun violence, witness accounts of unsolved murders, the NAACP election, and my vision as its President, and highlighting community organizations who are doing real work to improve conditions.

The Chief and City Manager provided me a detailed update on the status and direction of the Department. We have 14 vacancies with an aggressive recruitment campaign in place. I recommended visiting local and regional Historically Black Colleges and Universities to aggressively recruit.

The Chief enlisted the Department of Justice to come in to conduct an oversight review of all aspects of the Department to ensure operational efficiency and integrity. Several weeks ago, I provided the three with a job description I had written for a community liaison officer role. The Chief met with Charlotte Mecklenburg PD leadership and has officially created and put someone in that type of role.

I touched on several other topics including having more diversity in 2nd tier leadership and criminal investigators. I asked the City Manager to be cognizant of ensuring marketing materials and other pictorial correspondence sent out to residents included a diverse array of faces.

I extended a question to the table but specifically to the Chief as a summation point- what is ONE thing that each of us could implement under our direct control and authority that we feel could have the biggest impact on improvement? I offered that we should focus on building trust and improving relationships, but not through feel good actions like cops dancing with kids. I reasoned it had to be strategies and initiatives that would yield definitive and measurable results.

Great, great discussion this morning.

Public Announcement

♦ Intergenerational Financial Security and Caregiving Empowerment Conference Saturday October 1st 10 A.M. –2 P.M.

RFP Staff

♦ Salisbury Police sources report that a 4th suspect Jawaan Rahine Williams, 31, of 106 Clancy Street in Salisbury, was arrested Monday for the August 31st armed robbery at Village Inn Pizza on 2138 Statesville Boulevard.  Allegedly he employed a handgun to strike an employee in the head and fired a shot into the air.  He was charged with robbery with firearms or other dangerous weapons (felony), discharging a firearm into an occupied property (felony), and assault with a deadly weapon (felony). Under a secured $100,000 bond, he is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Jawaan Rahine Williams:

Previously Shybious Montreal Duncan, 22, of Charlotte and dwelling at 106 Clancy Street in Salisbury and Brittany Dannyelle Dalton, 23, of Salisbury were arrested as suspects for allegedly participating in August 31st armed robbery at the Village Inn Pizza on 2138 Statesville Boulevard in Salisbury. Dalton turned herself in to the Rowan County magistrate’s office on Wednesday night. Last Thursday Tyree Dashon Stiller, 22, was arrested.

A robber with a handgun was alleged to demand that that employees take him and two other robbers to a safe to obtain cash. The employees complied and were ordered to get on the floor. It was reported that the Village Inn Pizza safe was damaged when one of the robbers attempted to pry it open during the robbery. No one was injured at the time even though one of the employees was struck in the head prior to the robbers leaving the restaurant. The safe’s damage was estimated at $500.00.

The three robbers were described as males whose faces were covered with bandanas. All three were reported as being of medium height and build.

Village Inn Pizza at 2138 Statesville Boulevard in Salisbury, N.C.

Duncan was charged with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon (felony). Under a secured $25,000 bond, he is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Dalton was charged with accessory after the fact (felony). Under a secured $5,000 bond, she remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Tyree Dashon Stiller was charged with robbery with firearms or other dangerous weapons (felony). Under a secure $75,000 bond, he is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.

The robbery remains under investigation.

Shybious Montreal Duncan’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1432029&searchLastName=duncan&searchFirstName=shybious&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Jawaan Rahine Williams Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1002453&searchLastName=williams&searchFirstName=jawaan&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Citizens having any knowledge about this crime are urged to call the Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333. If you fear retribution, want to remain anonymous and possibly collect an award of up to $1,000, information can be submitted 24/7 via the web: http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org/ or by calling the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

**This article will be updated as soon as more information arrives.**

RFP Staff

♦ Video: County Commission Meeting Monday September 19th at 6 P.M.:

http://rowancountync.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=601

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♦ Rowan County Prayer Lawsuit Before U.S. 4th District Court PDF. Here is the complete court document of the proceedings: as recorded by the court:

https://app.box.com/s/297nvwbe77y3okucgv1v6nl3xqnmtyvl

Chuck Hughes, Board of Education, Seat 5

♦ Everything seems to have a fee attached to it today, from checking out a book with your library card to convenient 2 hour parking downtown. Our school system is no exception.
Fees range from entry to a sporting event to school-ground parking, to uniforms, to use of lap-tops and iPads. I am sure fees exist that I do not even know about.
Granted, the fees may seem marginal when you consider the costs of the events and technology tools, however marginal is relative. It might be marginal to a family with one child
but not so much with a family of two or three students or a family struggling from week to week to put food on their table.

High School Parking Fees: Parking fees are standard throughout our six high schools. I have no argument against these fees. If you can afford a car for your child, an annual
$50 parking fee is likely to be pretty manageable. After all, driving to school is a privilege, not a constitutional right. Although student parking fees ($20,176 in 2014-2015 school year
and $20,259 in 2015-2016) are hardly enough to stripe a couple of parking lots, one would think that all of the parking fee would go towards the upkeep of the parking lots, but that is
not necessarily the case. There is inconsistency in how these fees are utilized from one school to the next. Nor does the entire fee go to the school that raised the revenue. In fact
that school gets only $35 of each $50 with the remaining $15 spread through the district proper. Although the parking revenue is a pittance in terms of what it costs to maintain paving
and stripping of each lot, I believe the entire fee should go to parking lot up keep at the specific school that raised the revenue and not to other extraneous kettles within the school.
After all, it is a Parking Lot Fee.

Marching Band/Cheer Leaders Uniform Fees: This one really gets under my skin. I believe the school system should pay for the uniforms of all students who practice and
contribute to the game just as they do for the athletes who play. After all, the marching bands and cheer leaders are essential elements of our major sporting events. Fees for cheerleader
uniforms and marching bands range from $50 to $250 per member, depending on the high school. Granted, the band gets far more than the fee covers when you consider the cost of instruments,
uniforms, travel, fees to enter competitions, etc. So to some, $250 might seem to be a real bargain. However, what if you have two or three children participating in high school events?
Then the $250 becomes $500 or more for the year. For many families, $250 is a strain on the family budget. For some, it is an impossible expenditure. Although our booster clubs do a
great job of bringing in supportive dollars to cover many of these expenses, there is no guarantee that all fees and uniforms for students who dedicate time and energy to our events will be covered.

Fees for 1:1 IT Use: IT 1:1 (computer fees) seem to grow exponentially. This is due to damage and aging each year as well as new software that enhances education.
The following are changes that I will bring to the board for consideration:

* All fees raised under the guise of a project must go to that project, not siphoned off to unrelated projects.

* Every student who dedicates time and energy to our programs should have supplements beyond what booster clubs raise so that all of their expenses are covered including uniforms and equipment repair.

* The Board of Education should have oversight over revenues raised by booster clubs under our school banners.

* Event fees should be standard at all schools.

* We must be diligent in balancing the IT 1:1 fee with actual replacement costs. This is a real balancing act.

RFP Staff

♦ According to Salisbury Police sources multiple gunshots were fired at 316 Roy Street in Salisbury’s violence plagued West End, closing down a Salisbury 49ers youth league football practice at Miller Park in the 1400 block of West Bank Street on Tuesday around 6:30 p.m.  Fortunately no one was struck by bullets either at the playing field or on Roy Street about a block away.  The gunfire came from vehicle which sped away prior to the Salisbury Police’s arrival. Officers found shell casings from a handgun laying in the street.

316 Roy Street in Salisbury, N.C.

The Salisbury 49ers, a Police Athletic League AAU team made up of pre teens, immediately went to the ground as a precaution.  Practice was cancelled and players and other youngsters, under the watchful eye of coaches and parents, left the practice area after the police arrived.

It’s a shame that such healthy and valuable youth activities have to be marred by gunfire.

The Salisbury 49ers were practicing for a major contest against the High Point Steelers on Saturday, September the 24th at 10 a.m.

Citizens having any knowledge about this crime are urged to call the Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333. If you fear retribution, want to remain anonymous and possibly collect an award of up to $1,000, information can be submitted 24/7 via the web: http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org/ or by calling the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

**This article will be updated as soon as more information arrives.**

RFP Staff

♦ Tuesday evening most of the School Board candidates were gathered for the Tea Party Forum at the Blue Bay Seafood Restaurant.  Seen in the crowd were Commissioner Craig Pierce, former County Commission Chairman Jim Sides, Todd Paris, Salisbury Attorney, and other notables.  Candidates present were Alysha Byrd, Andrew Poston, Michael Julian, Chuck Hughes, Josh Wagner, Susan Cox, and Rob Robertson. Candidate Gene Miller did not attend

The RFP obtained a video of the forum from Stephen Elliot Arthur and hope to post it in the next few days if we can upgrade the audio with corrective software.

Alysha Byrd:

Josh Wagner:

Michael Julian:

Andrew Poston:

Chuck Hughes:

Susan Cox:

Rob Robertson:

Commissioner Craig Pierce:

RFP Staff

♦ Anthony Lamar Fudge, 39, a convicted sex offender from Salisbury and on the Rowan Sheriff’s Office Most Wanted List since February 2016, was arrested Tuesday in Winston-Salem, NC.

Currently being held in the Forsyth County Sherriff’s Office Detention Center, Fudge is expected to be transported back to Rowan County. Fudge, convicted in March of 2013 for taking indecent liberties with a minor, was wanted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office for failing to notify the Sheriff’s Office about his change of address and for probation violations.

Anthony Lamar Fudge’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0553348&searchLastName=fudge&searchFirstName=anthony&searchMiddleName=l&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff

♦ On Tuesday September 20th Salisbury residents spoke out about the city’s declining infrastructure, violent crime, boarded up houses, drugs and prostitution.  Salisbury is a place people will not want to live, learn, work, or play. Fears for safety and welfare have caused an exodus that has left around 2,000 houses vacant.

Pastor Andrew Davis’s Call to End Gang Murders:

Caroline Logan Asks for Action to End Gun Violence, Gangs, and Crime in Salisbury:

Rodney Queen speaks out on What Salisbury Really Is: Prostitution, Drugs, Crime, Gangs, and Boarded Up Houses

RFP Staff

♦ On Tuesday September 20th Salisbury residents spoke out about the city’s declining infrastructure, violent crime, boarded up houses, drugs and prostitution.  Salisbury is a place people will not want to live, learn, work, or play. Fears for safety and welfare have caused an exodus that has left around 2,000 houses vacant.

Sue McHugh Asks City to Move from Denial to Action on Neighborhood Crime:

Greg Rapp’s Details Neighborhood Shootings and Missteps by the Housing Commission:

Pam Soath on How Bus Service is Declining in Salisbury:

Press Release

♦ NC NAACP Statement on Officer Involved Shooting in Charlotte, N.C.: