Police Nab Suspects In String Of Crimes In South Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC — Three suspects wanted for a string of crimes have been arrested, and now face charges ranging from stealing a car to assaulting and robbing an ice cream vendor, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

According to police, a 2005 Infiniti G35 was reported stolen on July 3 from a south Charlotte business on Westpark Drive near Interstate 77. Surveillance footage showed that the suspect — later identified as Romell Mackey — entered the business and began acting suspiciously. He went behind the counter where employees keep their personal possessions, before leaving the store. A few minutes after he left, the victim discovered his car was missing from the parking lot.

About five hours later, an ice cream vendor told police he was robbed by two men with a pistol while on Archdale Drive near Old Pineville Road.

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“The victim reported that he was then thrown to the ground and assaulted multiple times by the suspects resulting in visible injury,” CMPD said. The suspects then took money and the victim’s cell phone before running into a parking lot along Old Pineville Road. Surveillance footage from a security camera in the area showed Mackey, still wearing the same clothes from the car theft reported earlier July 3, was seen running with another suspect, who was later identified as Wesley Fontaine.

Four days later on July 7, patrol officers located the stolen car in the 7000 block of Nations Ford Road, along with Fontaine and Ariel Harrison, 27, inside it. Both were taken into custody.

The trio have all been charged in the crime spree, police said. Harrison was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed weapon. He was also charged with several outstanding warrants.

Mackey, 22, was charged with larceny of a vehicle, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit a robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Fontaine, 21, was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit a robbery with a dangerous weapon, as well as charged with several outstanding warrants.

Photos courtesy of Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office