cwootson@charlotteobserver.com
Charlotte City Councilman Warren Turner, who works as an N.C. probation officer, was shot at Friday as he conducted an investigation in southwest Charlotte, sources said.
Turner, a Democrat from District 3 who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s election, wasn’t injured. He briefly pursued but lost the man who shot at him, but radioed information about the fleeing vehicle to other officers.
Police arrested 18-year-old Derrick Alan Daniels in connection with the incident shortly afterward. Police were interviewing Daniels late Friday.
Turner has been a City Council member since 2003. He heads the community safety committee, which oversees the fire and police departments.
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Turner was conducting a routine investigation on Shadowood Lane in the Windsong Trails community Friday afternoon when he approached two men. One man began shooting, then ran and fled in a tan car. Turner ran after the car while calling out a vehicle description to CMPD communications.
During the incident, a man could be heard over the police radio: “I am 10-4, I am 10-4,” police code for affirmative, or OK. The man then gave a description of a the car, which he said was headed toward Interstate 77 near Tyvola Road.
Police officers spotted the car near Woodlawn Road and started following it. The chase ended when the vehicle turned into the parking lot of Clanton Presbyterian Church on Freeland Avenue.
Reached on his cell phone Friday evening, Turner declined to comment.
Daniels has a short criminal record in North Carolina, with no convictions for violent crimes.
According to N.C. court records, Daniels was charged with possession of up to a half ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in December 2008. His jail sentence was commuted and he was instead given two years of probation.
Detectives were still investigating the case. Police encourage anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
