CMPD outlines new youth curfew after teen takeovers

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Estella Patterson is leading a new youth curfew pilot program following 15 “teen takeovers” across the city this year.

The initiative aims to curb large disruptive gatherings of young people and prevent teenagers from becoming victims or perpetrators of crime.

The curfew pilot follows recent high-profile incidents involving young people in public areas.

One takeover at Romare Bearden Park involved 200 people and resulted in two dozen teenagers being taken into custody. Another incident in University City led to 12 arrests.

Patterson emphasized that the department hopes the curfew will improve safety for local youth and community members.

“We’re hopeful that it will prevent those kinds of incidents from happening where a youth is victimized or is victimizing someone else,” Patterson said. “It goes both ways for us.”

Robert Merriwether Sr., senior pastor of ARC Ministries, said an experience earlier this year compelled him to support the initiative after he saw a teen takeover in the Boardwalk area in University City.

CMPD officers arrested 12 people, including teenagers, during that incident. Merriwether said the experience left him concerned about youth activity in the area.

“Because of these teen takeovers,” Merriwether said. “We were able to witness, unfortunately, teens taking over the boardwalk area. So, it compelled us to be active and engaged and involved in this new pilot.”

Merriwether added that the program is worth trying, calling it “a golden opportunity for our growing city.”

While the pilot program passed with majority support on the city council, two council members voted against the measure.

City Council At-Large Member Lawana Mayfield raised concerns about potential impacts on youth who are abiding by the law.

“Those who are trying to do right, I want to make sure we’re not putting them in a position where we’re punishing them because of those that are causing a problem,” Mayfield said.

Patterson addressed those concerns by outlining enforcement protocols for officers. CMPD officers will not conduct traffic stops based solely on suspicion of a curfew violation.

Instead, officers will issue warnings and educate youth before taking enforcement action. The curfew applies to teenagers after 10 p.m., but the program includes exceptions for work, school events, and religious activities.

October is designated as a month of education to ensure teenagers and parents are aware of the new restrictions before enforcement begins.

The curfew officially takes effect on Nov. 1 and will remain in place through the end of August. CMPD will conduct quarterly reviews to evaluate how the curfew program is working.

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