Residents take up arms against violent neighbor

WCNC, Channel 6, Charlotte, N.C. ^ | 9/23/2005 | TONY BURBECK

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

ROWAN COUNTY -- A group of Rowan County residents have organized armed patrols from the rooftops of their homes overnight Friday to protect themselves from a man suspected of arson and attempted murder.

Neighbors are upset deputies aren't on constant patrols or on a manhunt in search of David Lovett, a man accused of arson and attempted murder. If authorities can't catch him, they are ready to take up arms.

"We're not going to let this thing go by," said Richard Walker. "We're protecting our property and our homes."

According to police, Lovett created a "hit list" of residents he believed stole money, cigarettes and shaving cream from him.

"I don't know who is responsible for stealing my things, so I must punish all of you," the list reads. "Give it back and I will not punish you."

In an attempt to cross names off the list, Lovett has stabbed his aunt, Rita Regis, and burned several items in the homes of residents Scott Everhart and Amber Walker.

"He jumped out of his seat, grabbed the knives, stabbed her in the face and started stabbing her in the head," said Regis' boyfriend Douglass Altman.

Neighbors say four other residents were named in addition to the three that are already victims of Lovett's attacks. Lovett frequently threatened neighbors with a machete and a hatchet, neighbors said.

"He believes he's Sasquatch. He believes he's Bigfoot," neighbor Tom Lettice said. "He says, 'I'm around when you least expect me.'"

Police believe Lovett is hiding in the woods behind his neighborhood.

[Black Tooth]

I just read a story two days ago that was linked to the Los Angeles Times, but the story was out of Utah

Looks like you could figure it out two days ago. Guess you got dumber last night.

Oh boy, what a cleaver quip. Just brilliant.

[Yeti]

Cute.

[TaxRelief]

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail Constitution Day, Alia OR TaxRelief if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[Carolinamom]

I LIVE in Rowan Co., NC, and I NEED to know what part of the county this crazy man is wandering around unjailed.

[PeteB570]

Look outside your door. If your neighbors are not sitting on your roof you're safe.

Just kidding.

Really, if you're in Rowan County give the sheriff's department a call and then update us. My Ch 6 is out of Wilmington, NC.

[NCSteve]

Ah, the joys of late summer in the trailer park.

[Carolinamom]

I called both the Rowan Sheriff's office and the Salisbury Post newspaper......zilch. Got recordings telling me that it's after their office hours...so I remain uninformed and unprotected.

[TaxRelief]

What did the Sheriff's office say?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

That's exactly right, law enforcement is not obligated by law to protect you. I can understand that from a legal standpoint because anybody who is a crime victim could successfully sue the cops for not preventing it otherwise. They can't be everywhere and do everything. Where I have a gripe is where they unfairly restrict legal gun owners and infringe our right to defend ourselves. That's not right!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

LOL!! I put Charlotte, N.C. in the source link description. I swear I wasn't lying!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sounds like the NC residents know how to handle this guy. I agree with them!!

[f zero]

What’s he bitching about, why would Sasquatch need shaving cream anyway?

[11Bush]

He's just a newbie who will grow up to be a spelling/posting anal retentive. Of course, we got plenty of those already.

[CriticalJ]

Another link. Rowan County. Click on Satellite in the upper right corner to see how much forest is really around.

[R. Scott]

Roof tops may sky line you but they offer good observation and fields of fire.

When the target “frequently threatened neighbors with a machete and a hatchet” I wouldn’t be overly concerned about being sky lined. Even if armed, most untrained shooters will generally fire high if the target is above them.

[R. Scott]

…set a nice long brushfire line at the windward edge of the woods...

Just as a precaution so there won’t be a lot of flammable underbrush building up – it could prevent a major forest fire.

[R. Scott]

What’s he bitching about, why would Sasquatch need shaving cream anyway?

So he could go into town for supplies? If clean shaven he might pass for human.

[Zeroisanumber]

Paranoid schizophrenia gets pretty out of control if you don't take your meds regularly. Case in point.

[lwd]

I live in Rowan County also. A crack dealer moved into the duplex next door to me about three months ago. Scummy people have been coming and going at all hours of the day and night. My car was broken into last week and I have had crack heads try to beg money from me and sell me their stolen goods. Everyone on the street, including myself, has contacted the Sheriffs office to complain, and guess what? They haven't done a damn thing about it! I have lost all faith in Sheriff Wilhelm and will not vote for his relection.

[Constitution Day]

"We're not going to let this thing go by," said Richard Walker. "We're protecting our property and our homes."

Excellent. Git-r-Done!