Spike in violent crime, weapons on Glenwood South concerns Raleigh police chief

Crime on Glenwood South has seen a dramatic increase in the past couple of years -- particularly in violent crime, such as assault, sexual assault and concealed weapon violations.

Posted 10:30 p.m. Apr 5, 2022 — Updated 10:57 p.m. Apr 5, 2022

Heather Leah

, WRAL multiplatform producer & Ken Smith, WRAL anchor

RALEIGH, N.C. — Data from the Raleigh Police Department shows crime on Glenwood South has seen a dramatic increase in the past couple of years -- particularly in violent crime, such as assault, sexual assault and concealed weapon violations.

"The most glaring is the number of concealed weapons violations. We’ve seen that number triple," said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson in a presentation to the city council on Tuesday.

What disturbs Patterson in particular is the growing number of assaults.

"And also the fact that our law enforcement and EMS personnel are being assaulted," she said.

Raleigh officer says Glenwood South enforcement ramping up in light of increased crime

The majority of the assaults are due to excessive drunkenness, she said. However, police are seeing an increase in intoxicated people carrying handguns.

"That’s a repeated thing every weekend that we’re seeing," she said.

This past weekend, a man was stabbed outside the 100 block of Glenwood Avenue, near the club Mojito. Police say he was just trying to break up a fight -- and became a victim.

Weapons violations: 2019-2020 compared with 2021-2022

Concealed weapon violation: 15 to 64
Subject with gun: 0 to 4
Shots fired: 1 to 5
Shots in building/vehicle: 0 to 3
Overall: 16 to 76

She also shared this graphic comparing violent crimes on Glenwood South in 2019-2020 compared with 2020-2021

Violent crimes on Glenwood South in Raleigh have seen a dramatic increase.

On any given weekend, around 12,000 people converge on Glenwood Avenue. However, not all of them are from the Triangle area.

"There's an increasing, growing trend of individuals coming from surrounding areas and surrounding cities – Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Greensboro, Charlotte – because this is the hot spot now," Patterson said.

More than half of the people Raleigh police arrest do not live within the Raleigh jurisdiction.

Patterson was recently involved with a conversation on crime with police chiefs from cities around the United States. Among them was Police Chief Kathy Lester of Sacramento, which had a mass shooting this past weekend.

"I know for a fact that she was not expecting that within 48 hours, her city would make national news," Patterson said. "And truly, I think it's a reality check to look at our city more closely."

She said St. Patrick's Day weekend concerned her immensely, when a gunfire exchange left one person injured.

After rowdy St. Paddy's weekend, Raleigh records show increased crime in Glenwood South

"Also, you may have seen pictures of the individual who jumped off the roof," she said.

Patterson presented some potential solutions to the city council, which included an education campaign for business owners and managers, increased patrols on Fridays and Saturdays and continued conversations with businesses and enforcement of city ordinance violations.

“My desire is vibrancy over catastrophe. I want people to enjoy being able to go out to Glenwood South and have a nightlife," she said. "But Sacramento is a sobering reality for us. We have to look harshly at measures and be more aggressive in our stance concerning that.”

Business owners who spoke with WRAL News say they welcome the police initiatives because they want their patrons to feel safe coming to Glenwood South.

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