Steve Mensing, Editor
♦ Several days ago we made a request in the Rowan Free Press for firsthand accounts of the looting of downtown Salisbury in the aftermath of Hugo where over 20 break-ins took place. Within a days time we received an email from Steve Canzona, a burglary and robbery detective for the Salisbury Police Department during Hugo. He wrote: “My name is Steve Canzona and I saw your request for information about Hurricane Hugo in the Rowan Free Press. I had an active role in the storm and it’s aftermath back in September of 1989.”
A number of people recognized Steve Canzona as a detective who was on the scene in September 1989. 24 hours after being contacted by Steve, we conducted a phone and email interview about what happened in Salisbury during Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Steve Mensing: “Could you tell our readers about what you are doing now and about what you did in the Salisbury Police Department?”
Steve Canzona: “I am retired and living on a farm in Maine. I was a North Carolina law enforcement officer for thirty one years. From 1987 until 2003, I served the City of Salisbury as a Patrol Officer, Detective, S.W.A.T. Team member, Narcotics Investigator, Gang Investigator, Firearms Instructor, and School Resource Officer. At the time of Hurricane Hugo, I was the burglary and robbery detective for Salisbury Police Department.”
Steve Mensing: “Do you recall Hugo’s path toward Salisbury? What were the weather forecasters saying at the time? I heard it was a category I hurricane when it struck Salisbury. That would be at least 75 Mph with higher gusts.”
Steve Canzona: “Hugo was forecast to hit the southeast coast and it made landfall near Charleston, S.C. on September 21st. The storm was a category 4, very large, and fast moving. It travelled north west and came right over Charlotte before hitting Salisbury and west Rowan County very hard. One blessing came from Hugo being such a fast mover. Rainfall and subsequent flooding were only minimal. The storm slacked off a bit by the time it hit Salisbury, but it still packed hurricane force winds. Trees and power lines came down all over town in very short order.”
Steve Mensing: “How did you come to be called to the Downtown area? I heard it was a mess of fallen trees. Tree limbs scattered. Windows broken up and down Main Street. Signs of break-ins on Main Street.
Steve Canzona: “In the early morning hours of September 22nd, I was called by police communications and told to report for duty in downtown Salisbury. All the detectives were being called in because looting was taking place in and around the central business district. I left home at 5:00 am and brought a chainsaw with me. Without the saw, I wouldn’t have been able to make it in. As I arrived in town, it was getting light out and I was shocked at the damage. The storm was still raging and debris was flying all around. Tree branches, trash cans, home and building parts, were all airborne. I arrived in the 200 block of North Main St. just in time to see a large section of roof come off of the Rowan County Court House.”
Steve Mensing: “A category I hurricane has plenty of force behind it. The city must’ve taken a shellacking.”
Steve Canzona: By daybreak the looting had stopped. Power was out across the whole city. With no power many business burglar alarms did not work but some, with battery back up, still functioned. Some merchants were able to make their way into town to check their businesses. Many found that in addition to the storm’s damage, their stores were entered and merchandise stolen. Over twenty businesses in the downtown area were victimized. I interviewed workers from the power company, phone company, and city utilities who reported seeing suspects with loaded down hand trucks heading out of the downtown area shortly after the lights went out. By late morning the storm was pretty much over and my work really began.
Many people wondered how so many break-ins could happen, even with a hurricane going on. The Salisbury police protocol at the time dictated that when power outages occurred, available officers were to be sent to various intersections for traffic control. Of course with power out citywide and just a handful of officers working, there was no way to cover all the intersections. In retrospect, this wasn’t even necessary as the roads were impassable anyway. But with hot power lines down and emergency calls still coming in, there were no police officers available to patrol the central business district. It didn’t take Salisbury’s criminal element long to take full advantage of the situation.
Steve Mensing: “Tell us about the investigation and the gangs involved.”
Steve Canzona: “In the days following the hurricane, I was able to follow up leads, conduct interviews, and ultimately arrest most if not all of the criminals involved. I personally arrested eleven suspects. Some of the stolen property was recovered. The suspects were all charged with breaking, entering, and larceny. There were two gangs in Salisbury in the late 80s. The “Lynch Mob” was the east side gang and the “West Side Posse” was the gang for that side of town. Most of those arrested for the Hugo looting were affiliated with the “Lynch Mob.” All involved admitted their guilt in subsequent plea bargain deals with the Rowan County Courts.
As bad as Hurricane Hugo was, I always felt the real tragedy occurred later. One of the ringleaders that I had arrested was a character named Frank Junior “Commadore” Chambers. He was sentenced to several years in prison after his guilty plea to the Hugo related charges. After serving a fraction of his sentence, he was released from the North Carolina Department of Correction and returned to Salisbury. One night in October of 1992, Chambers, along with two other criminals, shot and killed Deputy B.P.Tutterow and his wife, Ruby, in their home on Park Ave. Chambers, and another accomplice are currently on death row and awaiting execution.”
Steve Mensing: “From what I read, the Tutterow murders were pretty grizzly.”
Steve Canzona: “One of the very worst homicides in Salisbury.”
Steve Mensing: “Really appreciate you taking the time for this interview.”
Steve Canzona: “Anytime.”
