Military Style Raid Leads To Homes Being Leveled In 24 Hours

Not far from the shadows of Charlotte's Uptown towers, a group of more than 50 heavily armed men swarmed a cluster of three small homes on North Pine Street late Friday afternoon.

By one witness account, a number of dark colored vans and black SUV's closed in on the homes from several different direction. Within seconds dozens of men wearing olive drab jumpsuits with no visible identification stormed into the three homes in a simultaneous attack.

Witnesses reported hearing automatic gun fire and loud explosions often associated with "flash bang" grenades.


2115 North Pine Street in 2011 Photo via Google Maps

During the raid the area was blocked off by unmarked police cars and the para-military style operation was over in less than an hour. At no time were any CMPD marked units visible, nor was Charlotte Fire or Medic involved.

Unmarked Car Blocking West 24th Street Friday May 3, 2013 Photo Credit: Agent X

It is interesting to note that the 4:45 p.m. raid took place without the normal local media gaggle, or Chief Rodney Monroe press conference, or post operation press release.

 

Then 24 hours later, two of the three homes that were targeted where leveled and the debris and contents hauled away, with not a trace remaining.

On Monday morning, only muddy Carolina red clay where the homes once stood remained along with a small Bobcat and a Komatsu (excavator) Track-Hoe.




2115 North Pine Street Monday May 6, 2013 Photo Credit: Agent X

2119 North Pine Street Monday May 6, 2013 Photo Credit: Agent X



This afternoon a lone unmarked car with blacked out windows stood guard in the area.

 

Unrelated side note: Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office has a request before the Mecklenburg County Commissioners tomorrow night, to purchase $130,000.00 worth of tactical body armor.