And CMPD bitches about it.

Honestly folks, the world has gone mad. Positively turned upside down.

Crime in Charlotte, the blog that was kept better track of local crime than any other resource, got a tip from local residents about a registered sex offender who was not, in fact, registered at the correct address. The residents reported numerous attempts to turn in the guy who, as a result of not registering, had an active warrant out for his arrest.

After verifiying with CMPD that there was, in fact, an active warrant for the guy, CinC was told attempts were made to find James William Kelley at his last known address, but they had come up empty. CinC resolved to double-check that. So, along with a reporter from WBTV, CinC knocked on the door. Out popped James William Kelley.

Kelley had served over six years in prison on a combo of a second degree rape/second degree sex offense against a child conviction involving a 10-year-old boy and failure to register as a sex offender. In other words, this guy had done this kind of thing before.

Here’s where things get strangely predictable. CinC calls 911 to get CMPD to come get the guy. CMPD rolls up sure enough and the officers are livid. Not about having a pedo on the loose in Steele Creek. No, they are mad at CinC for making them come get the guy and showing them up.

Oh, sure, CMPD dressed up their embarassment and outrage at having some woman with a blog do the job of an entire metro police force with some loud and threatening talk about putting officers “in danger” by finding Kelley and then calling 911.

Kelley could have barricaded himself in his apartment, CMPD whined. Yeah, you are right. Better to let him wonder the streets and molest kids.

From her description of the incident, CinC may have been the victim of an assault perpetrated by CMPD Sgt. Graham Brown. CinC should ask CMPD for the paperwork in order to file a complaint against him. In addition, CMPD Chief Darrel Stephens — remember him? — should apologize on behalf of the department for the officer(s) wholly unprofessional response.

Then again, perhaps they have nothing to apologize for. Perhaps CMPD’s don’t ask, don’t tell policy on immigration status extends to sex offenders as well. Certainly keeps the “danger” down.

Also note that Sgt. Brown calling CinC “trash dot com” no doubt represents a fairly widespread opinion of Web sites, blogs, and other froms of alt-media not dependent upon formal access to official CMPD channels for their information. We’ve previously noted that there is a great deal of tension between what I call open-source reporting and the carefully stage-managed spin of traditional media and large organizations.

In sum, it will be very interesting to see who comes to the defense of CinC.

Update: CinC has gone on hiatus.