State authorities investigate illegal dumping in Charlotte creek

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — People are dumping mattresses, food and even dead animals in a creek off June Furr Road in north Charlotte, authorities said.

"From where we're standing, (there's trash) about 40 yards that way, and it goes downstream," Mark Boone of Storm Water Services said.
 
The illegal dumping is poisoning the creek.
 
"The problem is, folks throw their stuff here (and) the water runs off the roads (and) picks up a lot of the bacteria or whatever," Boone said. "God knows what's in there and (being carried) into the stream."

The trash was cleaned up before, but people still dump at the spot.

"It's probably two to three times a week, I see someone drive down that way and start dumping some trash," a resident, who did not want to be identified, said.
 
The county and the state installed hidden cameras, but Channel 9 couldn't see the pictures of the people doing the dumping because the footage was turned over to the State Bureau of Investigation.
 
Anyone caught illegally dumping can face a fine from $250 to $3,000. If they dump more than 500 pounds, they could face a felony charge.

Cox Media Group