CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The leader of a Charlotte ministry was charged Wednesday with making threats.
The surveillance cameras at MW Properties were rolling when staff members said Bruce Little walked inside Wednesday morning.
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President Mark Walters said he’d just talked to Little on the phone about plans to raise the rent at Little’s Miracle House of Hope. The ministry is located at two Charlotte locations that the ministry has rented for years.
"Mr. Little called this morning going off about that. On the phone, screaming, yelling and saying why am I raising the rent,” Walters said. “A short time later, I received a call from staff saying Mr. Little’s in my office and Mr. Little’s threatening my life. We do have it on videotape.”
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Workers said in the video, Little tears up a notice about the rent change and yelled at staff.
"It's just really shocking for someone to threaten someone's life because the rent went up,” Walters said.
Little is no stranger to Channel 9.
His organization, The Miracle House of Hope, said it provides shelter and encouragement to people with addiction problems.
For years, Channel 9 reported about questionable fund-raising practices, which included sending clients into the street with a bucket to ask drivers for money.
The Better Business Bureau said the nonprofit has a history of transparency issues and won’t divulge specifics about how it uses donations.
A magistrate issued a warrant Wednesday for Little’s arrest. He was charged with misdemeanor communicating threats.
Walters said he’s taking his own action.
“After Mr. Little has done what he's done today, we're going to terminate all the leases," Walters said.
Walters said an eviction notice has been sent to the nonprofit.
He said he was willing to work with any clients displaced by the tragedy who need a place to live.