RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican lawmakers are preparing to grill Charlotte-area leaders about crime-fighting tactics and spending, particularly in the wake of two stabbings — one fatal — on the light rail system in the Democratic-led city.
A state House oversight committee asked Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and others to testify Monday at the Legislative Building.
The August fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, followed by a non-fatal stabbing in December, are among the chief reasons for GOP critiques of area law enforcement. The suspect in each stabbing — which drew comments from prominent political figures — faces charges in state and federal court.
In invitation letters to testify, the committee’s co-chairmen expressed that recent high-profile crimes raise serious concerns about law enforcement staffing, prosecutorial practices, and the city’s overall public safety strategy. The committee aims to ensure that local governments receiving public funds prioritize resident safety and security.
The committee's scrutiny has been politically advantageous for Republicans, who leverage concerns about public safety to gain support. The panel can delve deeper with requests for more documents or reports from local agencies, and even threaten funding losses, though such actions would require further general assembly approval.
Decarlos Brown Jr., charged with Zarutska’s death, had a lengthy criminal history that included mental health concerns. GOP lawmakers, alongside President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, criticized local Democratic leadership for perceived leniency towards criminal offenders.
Following Zarutska’s death, Mayor Lyles remarked on the judicial system's failures and has since pushed for enhanced safety measures on the light rail services. The incident prompted a new state law preventing cashless bail for particular violent offenses and mandated mental health evaluations for defendants.
Democratic Governor Josh Stein recently issued an executive order addressing mental health treatment for individuals in police custody.
The second stabbing incident involved an immigrant, identified by federal records, who had a history of illegal reentry into the U.S. Republicans have long accused Sheriff McFadden of lacking cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The upcoming committee meeting follows complexities around what legislators can disclose about ongoing cases as legal counsel for suspects sought to protect certain case details from public access.
