CMPD: Thief punched, stole $20 from 12-year-old boy at Charlotte park

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are searching for the person who attacked a 12-year-old boy at a Charlotte neighborhood park.

“It’s disturbing and I’m not going to bring my grandchildren to this park because of that,” Cynthia Mollock told Channel 9.

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According to a police report, the boy was at Thereasea Clark Elder Neighborhood Park in northeast Charlotte Sunday around 7:30 p.m. when he was pushed to the ground and punched by someone he didn’t know.

That suspect then stole $20 from the child.

The little boy went to the hospital with bruises and scratches.

“It’s unfortunate to hear that,” said one neighbor who did not want to be identified. “You think of a park being a place where kids can be free to have fun and walk and just be kids, and now it’s like everywhere you go, you wonder is it OK for your babies?”

That neighbor told Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster she comes to the park almost daily to walk. She was there Sunday, hours before the assault and robbery.

“It’s scary to think that could’ve been any of us.”

CMPD is trying to identify the suspect. A department spokesperson confirmed officers are patrolling the area, looking for anything suspicious.

Neighbors told Channel 9 that because the park is secluded, they have a new fear.

“I don’t think they’re going to find who did it,” Mollock said.

CMPD said investigators have not arrested anyone in this case.

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