After recent fights, shootings and arrests uptown, authorities are warning teens and their parents to stay out of trouble this New Years Eve, or there could be “potential consequences,” Charlotte police said Monday.

Previously, “consequences” — or charges Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department filed against teens and their parents — have been dropped by the district attorney’s office or ended in low sentences in court.

This year’s CLT NYE, usually held in uptown’s Romare Bearden Park, will take place at Truist Field. The venue change comes after a shooting in the park last year that left five people injured.

Officials have said the relocation is not related to the New Year’s Eve shooting. Six months earlier, the Truist Field’s 2023 July Fourth firework show also ended with four firearms seized, 17 teens arrested and 15 parents or guardians charged.

During Monday’s news conference, CMPD Lt. Crystal Fletcher said officers “already conducted home visits to juvenile offenders involved in incidents during this past July Fourth uptown celebration ... to educate parents and juveniles about the city’s youth protection ordinance and provide information on the juvenile justice process, emphasizing the potential consequences if their child engages in future criminal behavior.”

“If you are a parent,” Fletcher said, “you are responsible for knowing where your child is. Juveniles need to be supervised during the event.”

CMPD also will have officers stationed throughout Truist Field, Romare Bearden Park and surrounding streets to in police cars, bicycle units and motorcycles, Fletcher said.

The department’s specialized Juvenile Accountability and Diversion Empowerment team — or JADE — will also be there, she said.

Arrests made at Truist Field and Romare Bearden Park

The teens arrested in July 2023 faced various charges: carrying a concealed weapon, resisting a public officer, assault on a government official, disorderly conduct, possession of a firearm on city property, possession of pyrotechnic and failure to disperse.

Police cited their parents for contributing to the delinquency of a minor by leaving their teens unsupervised. The Mecklenburg District Attorney’s Office later dropped charges against those parents.

The New Year’s Eve shooter, 20-year-old Daevion “Laday” Crawford, entered a plea deal earlier this month. Under it, he could be released in less than nine months.

When asked Monday if the dropped charges and low sentence were “enough of a deterrent” from crime, Fletcher said simply: “CMPD did our job.”

“We were able to identify the suspect quickly, and we were able to take him into custody quickly,” she said. “At that point, we’ve done what we were supposed to do.”

CMPD Safety tips for CLT’s New Year’s Eve events

Fletcher also gave a list of safety tips:

•Drink responsibly.”If you plan to drink, use a ride share app or rely on a sober friend to get you home safely,” she said.

•If you do use a ride share app, remember to stay with the people you know and always ride in a group. “Verify the vehicle’s license plate and confirm the driver’s identity before entering the car,” she said.

•Be aware of your surroundings.“Keep your belongings secure and stay vigilant to avoid becoming a target for theft or other crimes,” Fletcher said.

•Don’t leave valuables in your car. “Be sure to take all your valuables with you and lock your car,” Fletcher said. “Don’t be an easy target for criminal activity. This is a good time to use a steering wheel lock if you have one. If you do not have a steering wheel lock, you can get one of those from your CMPD division office or our headquarters.”

•Kids and teens need to be supervised during the event.“If you are a parent, you are responsible for knowing where your child is,” Fletcher said.

•Tell officers any and all safety concerns. “They are there for your safety,” Fletcher said. “Don’t be shy if there’s a question or issue you have.”

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