Charlotte Cops Allegedly Competed To Pull Over Most Black Drivers as Racist Group Chat Scandal Explodes

Six Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers have been recommended for dismissal over a group chat in which officers allegedly competed to see who could pull over the most Black drivers.

According to reports, the messages surfaced during a state investigation into a separate officer and reportedly included racial slurs in discussions about using force against Black residents.

Defence lawyers say the allegations could jeopardise criminal cases built on the officers' work. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has neither confirmed nor denied the reported details.

A Thread Found on an Officer's Phone

The texts emerged during a State Bureau of Investigation probe into CMPD officer Seth Elliott over alleged misuse of the Flock network, a system of cameras that reads and logs vehicle licence plates and is used by police forces across the US, WBTV reported on Monday 12 October 2026.

CMPD received messages downloaded from Elliott's phone, and a further review uncovered the group thread.

Sources who spoke to the station on condition of anonymity said the thread included a competition over who could pull over the most Black drivers.

They said it also contained repeated use of a racial slur in conversations about use of force and firing weapons at Black residents.

The officers involved worked in the North Tryon, Freedom and University City divisions. One message WCNC obtained, sent earlier this year, read: 'our texts sound like a clan rally.'

Elliott was charged in July over the alleged misuse of police technology. According to court records cited by Complex and IBTimes UK, he is accused of using Flock data to help a college friend involved in drug dealing, which allegedly exposed an undercover officer.

The allegations against him have not been proven in court. His lawyer, George Laughrun, said Elliott resigned more than a month ago and declined to comment on the text messages. Elliott did not respond to WBTV.

Six Officers Face the Sack

An independent internal affairs review board met last week and recommended terminations, which are not yet final.

Six officers have been suspended without pay pending hearings before the Civil Service Board, and a seventh officer tied to the case resigned in August.

WBTV reported that officers can also appeal to the Citizens Review Board, a separate body. Chief Estella Patterson, who recently passed her first 100 days in the job, has the final say.

All seven officers joined the force within roughly the past three years, and four shared the same start date. Local outlets have withheld their names because none has been charged with a crime.

In a statement, CMPD said it 'remains unwavering in its commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity' and 'will not tolerate any behaviour that contradicts our core values'. Patterson said in a December 2025 interview that she would 'hold my employees accountable'.

The civil rights lawyer Ben Crump amplified the story on X on Tuesday, 13 October. 'A badge should NEVER be a license for discrimination!' he wrote. 'These allegations call into question traffic stops and use-of-force incidents involving these officers!'

Cases Now Under a Cloud

Defence lawyers say the officers' credibility could now be challenged in court. Brad Smith cited the 1972 Supreme Court ruling in Giglio v United States, which requires prosecutors to disclose information that could undermine the credibility of a police witness, WBTV reported.

He said he expected the district attorney's office to disclose the messages and then decide whether to proceed with affected cases.

Many prosecutors' offices keep records, often called Giglio lists, of officers whose history may have to be disclosed to the defence. Being flagged for credibility concerns can significantly affect an officer's usefulness as a prosecution witness, although the consequences vary by case and disclosure does not automatically end a prosecution.

Tim Emery, another defence lawyer, said the district attorney should consider halting cases in which the officers played a central role. He said their credibility was 'severely questioned and compromised'.

A spokesperson for Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather did not address the text thread directly.

The office said the district attorney 'must make an independent decision as to whether the violation amounts to evidence of the witness's untruthfulness or bias'. WBTV did not report how many criminal cases could be affected.

'Public Leadership Comes With Accountability'

Robert Dawkins of Action NC said the community should be worried. In his view, officers coordinating to target Black drivers would point to a systemic problem and called on CMPD to examine every officer and strengthen training and screening, WBTV reported. 'You're never going to be able to totally regulate what's in somebody's heart,' he said.

Charlotte City Council member Malcolm Graham said the officers should be held to a higher standard. 'Public leadership, whether you're an elected official or working for CMPD comes with accountability,' he said.

Former chief Johnny Jennings said in 2020 that applicants underwent implicit bias screening and psychological evaluations, while acknowledging that screening could not catch every problem.

The six officers remain suspended without pay as the termination process continues, with Patterson to make the final decision.