CIAA - A CMPD Success? Maybe Not

Charlotte's WBTV is reporting information given by CMPD in their "After Action Report".

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say their objective for the CIAA Tournament was to maintain a safe environment.

The Charlotte Fire Department, Medic, Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and other agencies say their plan was successful.

CIAA organizers estimate more than 100,000 people visited uptown for tournament-related events.

During the three-day period from February 28 until March 3, CMPD reports no major incidents related to CIAA were reported. 21 adults were arrested. That's down from 31 arrests last year.

Those arrests were mostly for alcohol-related charges, larceny, trespassing, public affray (fighting), and strong arm robbery.

From the tone of the news and the report from CMPD the CIAA would seem to be a full and complete success, with little if any disturbances or arrests.

But Cedar Posts has learned than CMPD's lower arrest number don't mean that crime during the event was down, rather it was simply CMPD has underestimated the man power needed during the event and patron were just let to "run amok" in Charlotte's Uptown.

CP has third hand knowledge of one CMPD Officer who was blindsided from behind as he tried to break up a fight. After being knocked to the ground by the man the officer responded by body slamming the man despite being half his size. At that point things really got out of hand, and being out numbered the CMPD Officer and his Captain decided to retreat.

CMPD Officer's coming off of 1st and 2nd shifts on Saturday where "Voluntold" to work secondary assignments on Saturday. Many who had to report back for their shift the following morning.

While the arrests were down, reports of patron openly smoking pot, drinking and fighting indicate that perhaps CMPD just elected to like the CIAA Fans have a "good time" and not interfere.

Cedar's Take: I don't disagree with the concept of containment only. However when the PIO sends out a press release that claims success they might want to put an asterisk so that the citizens don't confuse the CIAA with the Southern Baptist Convention.