A man was standing outside a soup kitchen when he was approached by another man known as Stickman, who was without his trademark stick. He accused the first man of stealing his namesake. The man denied it. So Stickman ran into the nearby woods, got another stick, returned to the man he was accusing and hit him in the hand with his new stick. The victim expressed his wishes to press charges against Stickman if he is found. The reporting officer could not find any signs of injury on the man’s hand.
Do I look fat in this ski mask?: A 27-year-old weapons enthusiast returned home one evening to find his house had been burglarized. The robber stole a 12-gauge shotgun, a bow with three arrows, a BB gun and a collector knife set containing nine knives. The only other item reported stolen was a bathroom scale valued at $30.
Tax Dollars Well Spent: Having just moved to Charlotte a few weeks ago, a 16-year-old boy got fed up. He was staying with his grandmother and got into an argument with her. He told her he was running away and left the house at 3pm. The boy had a history of running away. Cops talked to neighbors, looked in the local mall, told all CATS and Greyhound employees and dispatched the patrol chopper. The boy was found 30 minutes later, unharmed, although probably confused that the city had organized such a coordinated search.
Honey, I’m Home: An estranged husband greeted his wife at her residence by kicking in the French doors leading to the bedroom and exclaiming angrily, “If you have an abortion, I’ll kill you!” The French doors were reported damaged.
Hatred crime: Someone broke into a business. Once inside, the person broke the lock of a desk drawer and pried open a filing cabinet. Then the person smashed 27 computer screens valued at a $100 each. Hmmm … the work of someone recently fired?
All About the Abrahams: A customer attempted to buy an item with a counterfeit five-dollar bill. The cashier was tipped off to the forgery by the color of the bill. It was grey. At least the forger didn’t use Monopoly money.
Blotter items are chosen from the files of the Charlotte Police Department.
This article appears in Jan 18-23, 2006.
