Latest news with #GarryMcFadden
Axios
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
I ate dinner in Charlotte's jail
We paid $80 to dine with sporks and strangers. To be exact, we paid $80 for what was promised to us as an "unforgettable 5-course dinner inside an active Mecklenburg County detention center," with meals inspired by commissary items and jail inmates as our fellow guests. Why it matters: It's an incredibly rare opportunity to eat inside a jail among "residents," which is how the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's office refers to inmates. Sheriff Garry McFadden says he likes to push the limit and agreed to collaborate on this controversial event, held July 24. "This dinner is not about glorifying jail or turning incarceration into entertainment," organizer Evan Diamond wrote online, responding to a barrage of criticism. "It's about connection, creativity, community, and hope." Zoom out: Diamond's group Charlotte Foodies hosts some of the most immersive and unconventional pop-up dinners you can come by in the city. They've thrown a Beetlejuice-themed party outside a funeral home and curated a menu inspired by Hidden Valley Ranch. Diamond says his goal is for people to come as strangers and leave as friends. "Usually people are exchanging numbers to go break bread at another time, privately," Diamond tells me. "I always get a little teary-eyed when I see people connecting like that." But this event was much different, as the strangers were the people waiting inside Uptown's detention center for their day in court. Flashback: Roughly two months before the event, Diamond and Crawford met with the residents to plan the menu together. All the residents involved were in a reentry program and volunteered to take part. How it worked: Leading up to the night, attendees submitted background checks and picked up blue T-shirts that we all wore to disguise our differences. The small, intimate group passed through security. Staff took phones, keys and anything else we carried. (The sheriff's office let me bring in my phone for photos and videos.) I'm told the ticket cost covers only ingredients and labor, and Diamond often loses money on these dinners. We sat at tables of four. My fellow guests were a friendly couple and a reserved man, hunched over in his seat. The couple said they were well. The man said he was blessed. Though the online posting mentioned we'd be dining among residents, some attendees were surprised at the end of the night when, after small talk and praise for the food, organizers asked the residents to stand and reveal themselves. "There was a moment of quiet surprise," one attendee wrote on Facebook after, "not because of any judgment, but because for nearly two hours, we'd simply been people sharing a meal." My thought bubble: What I can tell you is the resident I dined with was kind, optimistic and, yes, human. What I want to tell you we had a breakthrough conversation. But how do you connect with someone who's going through something much bigger than you can grasp? Where do you start? You can't talk about your summer travels or complain about the heat. They can't even go outside. Zoom out: McFadden is proud of the nationally accredited detention center, which he never refers to as a jail. He took me on a tour after dinner and shared that they have a library, dentist chairs, even a recording studio. He shows me the hospital, where a young woman is curled up asleep. Some residents will receive some of the first-ever medical care while incarcerated here, he shares. Still, there's no place to go outside and feel the sun. The average resident is here for less than 21 days. The longest anyone has stayed there in recent memory? 11 years. The bottom line: Diamond believes his event achieved its goals: Erasing stigma for attendees and hopefully inspiring residents to never return to the center again upon release. As my dinner guest left the table, the couple told him never to come back. He promised he wouldn't. Now, let's take a closer look at the experience and menu. Meet the chef Erick Crawford is the owner Marlee Jean's Raw Bar + Kitchen in Davidson and won an UPPY Award last year from Unpretentious Palate for his food truck Chop Chop Red Pot. He's also four years sober and now uses food to share his story of recovery. "I always want to give back to the community because I took away from the community," he tells me afterward. Crawford credits people like Sam Diminich of Restaurant Constance, a sober chef himself, for helping him get a second chance. "Now that people are reaching out to me, I'm taking up that phone call," he adds. "The most amazing thing that I can do with my life is to help the next person in need." First Course: "Deviled in Dentention" Our starter is pickled deviled eggs, topped with crispy turkey bacon and crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Crawford says the residents told him they only eat powdered eggs, so he wanted to incorporate real eggs into the meals. Cheetos are commonly purchased at the commissary and used as a seasoning. Second course: "Hibachi Ramen Stir-Fry" Next up, we're served ramen noodles with hibachi-style vegetables, finished with sriracha aioli and a poached egg. Crawford intentionally mixed foods that the residents couldn't access with ones they could: Fresh vegetables and ramen noodles. Residents can't access boiling water. Instead, they'll use the warmest water they can pour from their cell faucet and place a book on top to steam the noodles as soft as possible, Crawford explains. Third course: "Surf and Cellblock" Grits are also served often in the detention center, but they're bland and watery. "I wanted to give them some good, nice, creamy grit," Crawford says. Crawford's take was seared shrimp over pimento grits, topped with salsa verde and crispy tortilla shards. A Wagyu crumble is on top, inspired by beef sticks, another commissary item that residents may use to enhance the flavor of their food. Fourth course: "Yard-smoked Ribeye and Commissary Steak Sauce" In place of a steak dinner that residents craved, Crawford served prime rib atop more fresh produce: mashed sweet potatoes, carrots and rosemary pepper sauce. The pineapple soy glaze was made with Push soda. Since we couldn't have knives, all the food was bite-sized. Crawford shaved the prime rib as a workaround. Fifth course: "The Sweet Escape" For dessert, Chef Anthony Denning, a Food Network "Chopped" champion, prepared an elevated version of a "state cake" — the term for a cake made in jail and prison, typically by mashing honeybuns up and mixing in candies.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE cooperation bill passes NC House amid pushback from Mecklenburg County sheriff
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A bill that cleared the North Carolina House Tuesday night promises increased cooperation between local sheriffs and federal immigration agents. But the legislation, HB 318, is already facing pushback from Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden. McFadden told Queen City News this week he can't hand over anyone in his custody to federal officials without the proper federal charging documents. Those documents, McFadden claims ICE rarely obtains. ICE speaks following arrests at Mecklenburg County Courthouse that drew sheriff's ire 'It is not going to fix it, whether you give me two hours or its 48 hours…we have held over 200 since December first, not one has been removed from the Mecklenburg County Jail,' said McFadden. HB 318 would require Sheriffs to give a two-hour warning to immigration officials before they release someone from their custody who is in the country illegally and charged with either a felony or certain violent misdemeanors. Most Democrats opposed the bill during floor debate. 'Not clearly identified': ICE agents arrest man at Mecklenburg County Courthouse, sheriff says 'I want due process rights, which I think this is in violation and it is an attack on undocumented people in this state,' said State Rep Marcia Morey, who represents Durham County. Mecklenburg County State Rep Carla Cunningham, who has crossed party lines to support similar legislation in the past, was the lone Democrat to vote for HB 318. She argued complying and cooperating with ICE would only improve law enforcement's ability to protect the public. With the bill passing 70-45, it now moves to the Senate where it will also likely pass. Governor Josh Stein could veto it but with Cunningham joining Republicans, the GOP may have the numbers to override any such veto. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Sheriff McFadden: ICE makes arrest outside Mecklenburg County Courthouse
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden says he witnessed ICE make an arrest outside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Wednesday. According to Sheriff McFadden, the agents were in plain clothes and in an unmarked car. He does not know the identity of the person arrested or if that person had business at the court. A spokesperson for ICE said more information will be released later. 'I don't think I was that surprised, because we know it is going to happen,' McFadden said. 'It's going to continue to occur.' RELATED STORIES: Mecklenburg County Sheriff discusses impact of HB10 Mecklenburg County Sheriff calls for collaboration and transparency with ICE Sheriff McFadden says ICE failed to pick up 163 undocumented people from jail ICE, partner agencies arrest 24 people in Charlotte operation McFadden says he is now creating a policy for future arrests on courthouse property. He says he gave his personal cell phone number to arresting agents and asked to be contacted next time so court business isn't disrupted. 'We are just looking for collaboration, conversation, and cooperation,' Sheriff McFadden said. 'We just don't want anybody to be hurt. We don't want anything to happen to anyone and we're just concerned.' As Channel 9 has been reporting, ICE says McFadden isn't cooperating with the agency's detainer requests. While inmates flagged by ICE are held for 48 hours, ICE says Sheriff McFadden isn't calling the agency before they are released. McFadden says the law doesn't require him to. Stefanía Arteaga with the Carolina Migrant Network says she is worried the arrest will make people less comfortable going to court. 'We have to remember that Mecklenburg County court isn't just to criminal charges,' she said. 'We have small claims court. We have people who are trying to get married within the court. It will have an impact on the community if community members do not feel safe accessing the court system.' This is a developing story. Watch Channel 9 for updates. (VIDEO: Vape shop employee shoots at fleeing robbers in Lincolnton, sheriff says)
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sheriff McFadden claims he hasn't been part of conversations on reopening of Mecklenburg County's juvenile detention center
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden says he wants to be part of conversations about the potential reopening of the county's juvenile detention center. The facility off Statesville Road in north Charlotte closed in 2022, with McFadden citing COVID-related staffing issues. It has since been used to host a free summer camp. He claims other officials have been discussing the jail's future without his input, but did not specify which ones. 'Missed opportunity': ICE's Charlotte operation sparks tension with sheriff over alleged lack of communication 'As ongoing discussions regarding the reopening of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office North Juvenile Detention Center, commonly referred to as Jail North, continue, it is imperative that these conversations should be held with an invitation to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff,' McFadden said in a statement released Wednesday. 'I have consistently prioritized the support of juveniles in our community involved in the criminal justice system.' Following the closure, McFadden says the sheriff's office did not extend the contract with the state to operate Jail North. 'This decision was made due to political maneuvering and misleading information by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,' he wrote. 'During the COVID era, DHHS inspections found that staffing levels were inadequate at Detention Center Central, so I had no choice but to close Jail North and allocate staff from there to Central. In reality, our agency was operating adequately at all of our facilities, despite the findings.' He says he's open to participating in all discussions regarding his plans for Jail North. 'As your sheriff, I must have a say in these pivotal conversations that impact the lives of our juvenile offenders in Mecklenburg County and beyond,' he said. 'I firmly disagree with any suggestion that we were not cooperating with the state. Therefore, I strongly oppose any assertion or implication that certain decisions were or had been made without the sheriff's office's input, consideration, or recommendations when it comes to the well-being of our juveniles.' Prior to the closure, McFadden implemented programs like public speaking classes, essay writing, a barber school, and business proposal classes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Missed opportunity': ICE's Charlotte operation sparks tension with sheriff over alleged lack of communication
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The recent ICE operation that led to the arrest of 24 undocumented immigrants is highlighting the strained relationship between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. At the center of the controversy is Sheriff Garry McFadden, who claims ICE is not only sidestepping his office but also misrepresenting the role of the MCSO in these arrests. According to ICE, six of the 24 individuals detained had active 'detainers,' requests to hold them in custody beyond a judge's order. But Sheriff McFadden, citing his duty to uphold the law, refutes this claim, saying that ICE is misleading the public by blaming MCSO for not taking action that would be illegal. PREVIOUS: Meck County Sheriff responds to claims department failed to hold undocumented immigrants on detainers 'My duty is to uphold the law and the Constitution, not to act outside of my legal authority at the request of a federal agency that refuses to follow proper procedures,' McFadden said. Despite attempts to communicate with ICE about these arrests, McFadden claims he has been met with a wall of silence. The sheriff went so far, on Tuesday, as to outline the timeline of his office's communication efforts with ICE. On March 18, McFadden says he emailed the Atlantic Field Chief of Staff of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), requesting clarification on the agency's stance regarding House Bill 10 (HB-10). This bill allows local law enforcement to hold undocumented immigrants for an additional 48 hours for ICE, but the sheriff says he was looking for clearer guidance on how many people were being held under this provision and at what cost to taxpayers. McFadden says he never received a response. PREVIOUS: ICE, Norfolk Southern police arrest migrants along Charlotte railroad tracks On March 19, McFadden's Public Information Officer, Sarah Mastouri, reportedly sent a follow-up email to the Media Operations Unit Chief for the Southeast region of ICE. After a brief exchange, the Chief declined to provide any information, citing privacy laws, and directed the Sheriff's office to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request instead. When Mastouri requested an update, she reportedly received the same response. By March 20, McFadden says he made phone calls to both the Media Operations Unit and the ERO Atlanta Field Office Director. However, McFadden claims that the Media Operations Unit Chief refused to share the names of the detainees and failed to follow up on his promise to connect McFadden with someone who could. When McFadden called the Field Office Director, he left a voicemail and said he never heard back. Of the 24 people recently arrested in Mecklenburg County, McFadden openly asked: How many of them have been federally charged or indicted? 'If these individuals are as dangerous as ICE suggests, why have no federal charges been filed?' McFadden asked, adding that Mecklenburg County has nearly 12,000 outstanding criminal warrants – many for violent offenses. ICE continues to focus its efforts on civil immigration violations, McFadden argued, while failing to follow the legal procedures to bring these individuals into federal custody. 'There's nothing outstanding about these 24 undocumented immigrants. They have civil warrants, which are something law enforcement deals with every day,' McFadden said. 'If ICE believes they pose a serious threat, they should be filing the necessary federal charges to ensure they are prosecuted.' The alleged lack of communication and transparency between ICE and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office continues. As McFadden sees it, the situation reflects a broader failure to prioritize public safety and follow proper legal 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
