I’ve sung the praises of the Crime in Charlotte blog a couple times now, but now it has topped itself.
The blog documents the release of a dangerous, career criminal on the very day he is set free on the local populace. The whole thing must be read to be believed, but here are the low-points:
Jonathan Burke was arrested yesterday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon- inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. The magistrate set his bond at $20,000 and Burke posted bond and was set free today!!! … Burke was arrested on December 28, 2005 for assault with a deadly weapon (gun), going armed to the terror of the people and possession of a handgun of a minor. He was released the same day. On January 19, 2006, Burke was arrested for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of marijuana. His bail was set at $20,000 and he bailed out the same day. On March 7, 2006, he was arrested again on drug charges and was set free the same day. On July 15, 2006, Burke was arrested for robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and assault charges. He was jailed for 3 days. Then on August 29, 2006 — he shoots to kill, runs from the police for almost a month, gets caught and is now back on the streets?!?! As far as records show, Burke has served 3 days in jail for all the above…
That is stunning ladies and gentlemen. Mecklenburg’s courtrooms are backed up, its jail overflowing, and this is the end result. Tremendous institutional pressure to keep the docket as clear as possible. A few high-profile murder cases, repeat convicted felons up again, and that’s about all we have time and space to handle.
Now, when is that next rally for Uptown baseball? That is important.
