Violent crime down 5% in Uptown, CMPD says

CHARLOTTE — Violent crime in Uptown is down 5% year to date and property crime is down 7%, leaders at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced Monday night at a city council meeting.

Arrest made in mass shooting that injured 5 during New Year’s Eve celebration in Uptown

Arrests are up 5%.

However, commercial and residential burglaries and robberies continue to be a challenge.

Some are still asking if Uptown is safe with recent reports of violence.

“That perception is out there,” said Councilman Malcolm Graham. “The reality is people are still getting shot in Uptown.”

“I’ve been told a couple of times that people looked around, and there aren’t any officers in evidence, and they feel exposed,” Councilman Ed Driggs said.

There have been positive results from several operations underway in Uptown, CMPD said.

Operation Trio is a targeted effort in highly populated areas, including the transit center and Romare Bearden Park.

It’s yielded 107 arrests and 14 seized firearms.

Officers are making home visits to repeat offenders, particularly leading up to the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve, as part of the Juvenile Accountability and Diversion Empowerment Program (JADE)

“We plan on repeating that rollout for New Year’s Eve where we make home visits to repeat offenders’ homes,” said Dep. Chief Jackquelyn Bryley. “We have conversations with the parents. We have conversations with those juveniles and express our interest in them not coming Uptown to engage in any kind of criminal activity.”

Resident Angel Wise said she feels uneasy waiting for the bus at the transit center, especially after a man died there over the weekend following an altercation with security staff and other bystanders.

“I feel pretty safe walking around the city and everywhere else, but down in there. I’m not really comfortable,” she said.

CMPD is also curbing street racing after a new law that went into effect on Dec. 1, 2023, which increased penalties.

There have been: