May 7, 2008

Two men are being charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine following an officer-involved shooting that resulted in non-life threatening injuries to one of the men. As is standard procedure with officer-involved shootings, CMPD Officer Jenny Curlee is on paid administrative leave and Homicide detectives are conducting the criminal investigation. Detectives will present the results to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney.

Findings at this stage in the investigation:

• On May 6, 2008 at 6:25 p.m., Mecklenburg County ABC Officer Frank Lopez observed an individual, later identified as Guy Manuel Cabral (W/M 6/22/56), drinking beer in a car in the parking lot of the Sam's Mart Shell station at 1920 Central Avenue.
• Officer Lopez placed a call for back up from the CMPD and then approached the vehicle on the passenger side to confront Mr. Cabral.
• He then observed the driver, later identified as Brian Jarod Howie (B/M 8/23/78), pass what appeared to be drugs to Mr. Cabral who placed the drugs between the seats.
• Officer Lopez directed both men to keep their hands in sight.
• CMPD Officer Curlee arrived at 6:29 p.m. to assist Officer Lopez and positioned herself on the driver's side of the vehicle. 
• Both officers gave verbal commands for Mr. Howie to remove the keys from the ignition and not start the vehicle. 
• Mr. Howie refused to comply with the verbal commands from either officer.
• Officer Lopez pulled his TASER and continued to request the driver to remove the keys from the ignition and to follow his directions. 
• Officer Curlee pulled her service pistol when Mr. Howie reached to his right side near the console area.
• Officer Curlee fired her service pistol while Officer Lopez fired his TASER at Mr. Howie who sustained a single gunshot wound to the arm and chest and is listed in stable condition at Carolinas Medical Center. 
• Neither Mr. Cabral nor the officers were injured.
• No weapons were found in the vehicle. Drugs were recovered.

Officer Curlee, 29, was hired in January 9, 2002 as a telecommunicator and graduated from the Police Academy as a sworn officer in November, 2007. She is assigned to the Eastway Patrol Division.

Mr. Cabral has 13 previous arrests dating back to 1980 and Mr. Howie has 16 previous arrests dating back 1998, eight of which are drug charges.

Internal Affairs is conducting a separate, parallel internal investigation. A Shooting Review Board, made up the officer's chain of command, Internal Affairs and an outside civilian participant from the Community Relations Committee, will review all available evidence and interview appropriate witnesses to determine whether all departmental policies were followed.