City leaders want to hold those accountable who disobey ‘stay-at-home’ order

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Monday marks one week since North Carolina’s stay-at-home order went into effect, and still, there are complaints that people just aren’t taking it seriously.

The Police Department has received 1,400 complaints from the community about their fellow citizens who are not minding the social distancing rule.

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Charlotte City Council met Monday night for a strategy session that focused on the coronavirus outbreak. CMPD Chief Kerr Putney gave the council multiple examples on how people are not complying with the order.

Police asked a group of 50 protesters outside a preferred women’s health center on Latrobe Drive to leave and all but 12 refused. They were cited. After that, eight continued to disobey orders and they were arrested, the chief said Monday night.

If non-compliance continues, Putney said rules will have to get tougher for everyone.

“You should expect additional restrictions,” Putney told the council. “If they do come, we expect people to abide by them and if and when they come, we will enforce them.”

Police said they are cracking down on businesses that aren’t following the stay-at-home order. Last week, officers cited Cool Cave Spa in southeast Charlotte for staying open and told them to shut down.

Southeast Charlotte day spa manager charged with violating stay-at-home-order Southeast Charlotte day spa manager charged with violating stay-at-home-order

Although many of the city’s parks are maintained by the county, we’re still seeing problems with people not adhering to the social distancing rule. Over the weekend, Channel 9 received video of a very crowded Romare Bearden Park with a group of people playing volleyball.

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“Unfortunately, it's a lot of the mentality of today's society. ‘Me first, I don't care, it's not going to happen to me. Give us all a trophy,’” said park visitor Chuck Howard.

Prince David said he saw the volleyball game quite differently.

“I think it's pretty cool,” he said. “I think they began to be very collaborative.”

David told Channel 9 fear of the virus is “a little over-hyped, and so is the county’s response.”

“We’re throwing the football,” he said. “I think any time you get any extracurricular sports you wash your hands and call it a day.”

The county’s health director has already taken measures to keep people at home by zip-tying basketball nets, locking tennis courts and taking volleyball nets.

For now, the parks are still open, but the county could shut them down if people continue to crowd them.

Officials work to get crowds under control in public places amid COVID-19 Officials work to get crowds under control in public places amid COVID-19

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