2024 Third Quarter Public Safety Report

Published on October 10, 2024

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024) – Today, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) released its Third Quarter Public Safety Report in a media briefing held at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in Uptown where officials shared that overall crime is flat through Sept. 30, 2024.

CMPD provided an overview of crime statistics from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, 2024, with property crime down 1% and violent crime up 6%.

The overall number of vehicle thefts have not increased or decreased this year compared to this time last year, and the larceny from auto incidents have decreased 9% (7,645 in 2024 compared to 8,381 in 2023).

CMPD responded to 294,695 calls for service (up 3%) and the percentage of police interactions increased 2% over the same timeframe, (409,396 in 2024 vs. 400,851 in 2023). Arrests are up 3%, and gun seizures are up 3%.

The CMPD’s JADE (Juvenile Accountability and Diversion Empowerment) Team investigated several cases and made 75 arrests, many of whom were involved in vehicle thefts and larceny from auto cases. Juvenile arrests are flat through the third quarter.

During the same period, the CMPD saw a rise in homicides. Year-to-date, there were 83 homicides in 2024, a 28% increase over the same timeframe in 2023.

“CMPD’s Homicide Unit investigates each and every case tirelessly, and they are dedicated to achieving a resolution and justice for each life lost and for the victims’ families left behind,” said Deputy Chief Jackie Bryley. “The CMPD’s Homicide Unit continues to exceed the national average, maintaining a 5-year average homicide clearance rate of 80%. In 2024, the Homicide Unit cleared 70% of its homicide cases through the third quarter.”

Aggravated Assaults are up 7%. An Aggravated Assault occurs when the crime is taken a step further, such as a weapon is used, or the harm or threat takes place in certain circumstances.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon crimes are up 4%; pointing a gun is up 8%.

The increase in the number of Organized Retail Crime incidents is a contributing factor in the rise of Aggravated Assaults. The CMPD has investigated over 900 Organized Retail Crime incidents through the third quarter.

“The city has seen a rise in these crimes, which are increasingly violent and threaten the safety of retail employees and customers,” said Major Ryan Butler.

CMPD officers located and arrested five suspects who committed numerous shoplifting incidents throughout the City of Charlotte. The shoplifting incidents escalated into Common Law Robberies when the suspects sprayed retail employees with bear spray in order to flee the scene.

The most recent case occurred on Sunday, Sept. 1, at a Harris Teeter store in CMPD’s Providence Division in the 6700 block of Carnegie Boulevard. The suspects used hijabs (head coverings) to disguise their appearances. When a store employee approached the suspects and asked for them to leave, they sprayed the worker with bear spray.

As a result of the continued investigation, detectives identified two suspects involved and were able to link these suspects as well as three others to several organized retail crime cases. On Friday, Sept. 20, officers arrested and charged the following suspects in connection with these incidents:

Zaniya Howard, 18
Soverria Davis, 19
Heaven Manning, 20
Amiya Beatty, 22
Shaquilla Martin, 29

“Organized retail crime detectives work tirelessly to disrupt these sophisticated theft rings that have resulted in significant financial loss and apprehensions of individuals involved in these criminal networks,” said Maj. Butler.

Recruitment continues to remain a top priority for the department. Less than a week ago, Recruit Class 197 graduated adding 48 officers to Patrol.

In December, the CMPD will add a fourth recruit class – Recruit Class 200. This is the first time in the department’s 31-year history that a fourth recruit class will start during the calendar year. The recruits will embark on the newly instituted 8-month training and certification program to become the department’s newest officers. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the ranks of CMPD, please go to www.JoinCMPD.com.

The CMPD also anticipates the launch of the Civilian Crash Investigations Program by the end of the year. The goal of this program is to have several trained civilians to investigate property-damage-only traffic crashes within CMPD’s jurisdiction. With this civilian unit’s crash response, it will allow our officers to respond to higher priority calls. In 2022, officers spent more than 31,000 hours responding to these types of calls.

The following statistical breakdown below provides an overall snapshot of crime (YTD) in 2024 compared to 2023:

Violent crimes: 5,662 offenses in 2024 compared to 5,342 offenses in 2023.
Homicides: 83 in 2024 compared to 65 in 2023.
Rapes: 167 in 2024 compared to 196 in 2023.
Armed robberies: 662 in 2024 compared to 669 in 2023.
Property crimes: 27,874 offenses in 2024 compared to 28,142 in 2023.
Residential burglaries: 1,303 in 2024 compared to 1,497 in 2023.
Commercial burglaries: 1,964 in 2024 compared to 1,481 in 2023.
Larcenies from automobiles: 7,645 in 2024 compared to 8,381 in 2023.
Vehicle thefts: 5,852 in 2024 compared to 5,838 in 2023.
Arsons: 116 in 2024 compared to 106 in 2023.

Finally, The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas program is looking for mentors. If you or anyone you know may be interested, please go to www.bbscentralcarolinas.org.

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