(The Center Square) – Threats to a state lawmaker, extortion, corruption and “willful misconduct and maladministration in office” are charges filed Monday in Superior Court by a state representative and four former employees of a sheriff in North Carolina’s largest metropolitan area.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, on the same day he agreed to testify before a General Assembly oversight panel, is expected to be probed by the State Bureau of Investigation upon request by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather. Rep. Carla Cunningham, D-Mecklenburg, said the sheriff, in a July 26 call, told the lawmaker “people of Mecklenburg County ‘would come after’ her” if she went through with how she planned to vote on a veto override.
The petition filed requests McFadden’s removal from office. He’s not given statements about the pending litigation. His appearance before the Oversight Committee of the state House of Representatives is scheduled for Jan. 29.
“Based on McFadden’s tone and manner of delivery,” the petition says, “Rep. Cunningham understood McFadden to be making a prediction that Rep. Cunningham would become physically unsafe, not that she would (for example) lose the support of her constituents or face highly motivated political opposition.”
The override vote referenced was on The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, known also as House Bill 318. Cunningham was the lone Democrat to vote for the legislation and on the override. Under the new immigration law, local law enforcement cannot release a suspect until 48 hours after ICE is notified.
McFadden’s history has shown sympathy toward people illegally in the country, and a stated desire to refuse cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. McFadden on his first day in office ended the ICE cooperation program known as 287(g).
Marcia Crenshaw Hill, Kevin Canty, Juan Delgado and Bryan Adams – respective former sergeant, chief deputy, captain and major with the Sheriff’s Office under McFadden – are petitioners alongside Cunningham. Together, in addition to the threat against a state legislator, they say McFadden is responsible for mismanagement of the county jail, retaliation tactics on former employees and whistleblowers, misuse of resources, weaponization of internal affairs and workplace favoritism.
Cunningham said physical threats in 2025, including at hosted town halls, led to State Capitol Police security protection while in Raleigh. “Such security did not accompany her to Charlotte,” the petition says, and private security was hired from campaign funds.
The petition points out the timing of McFadden’s call being less than two weeks after Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in their home on June 14. Murder charges are filed and political motivation is suspected.
Cunningham said the threats, as delivered, “constituted attempted bribery and corruption” as defined in the state statute entitled “Bribery, Economic Threats Made to Influence Legislation.”
Charlotte’s estimated population is 944,742. The Queen City is 14th largest in the nation, second among the eight South Atlantic states, and 7th in the 16-state South as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. The population of Mecklenburg County on July 1 is projected to be 1,198,460 by the Office of State Budget and Management.
While some publications have labeled Cunningham as “embattled” for not toeing the line of Democrats, arguably, it is Charlotte with a significant reputational downfall and ongoing trouble in the last five months.
On Aug. 22, Iryna Zarutska was killed aboard a light rail train in the city. Two weeks later, a video of the stabbing was released by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, sparking national outcries as far away as second-term Republican President Donald Trump.
When the suspect’s revolving door pattern history in the justice system was mixed into the conversation, three congressional lawmakers sought the removal of the magistrate who last let him go free on merely a promise to appear in court. Weeks later, state lawmakers passed legislation – Iryna’s Law – ending cashless bail and subsequently ending the unwritten moratorium on the death penalty.
In November, enhanced immigration enforcement – including more than 400 arrests – was carried out in Charlotte by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and ICE. Democrats among the city’s leadership, including Mayor Vi Lyles, publicly denounced the action while Homeland Security said those arrested had criminal records inclusive of domestic violence, battery, aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault on a police officer, breaking and entering, larceny, driving while intoxicated, and hit-and-run.
On New Year’s Eve, teenager Christian Sturdivant in the Mint Hill suburb was apprehended by the FBI and charged with planned attacks on a local grocery store and fast-food restaurant inspired by the Islamic militant organization known as ISIS. That’s the Islamist extremist group that broke away from al-Qaida and bears responsibility for the 9/11 attacks on America.
Among the former employees’ accusations, Crenshaw Hill said she was stabbed by an inmate and subsequently fired in a disagreement of whether she entered a cell with or without other officers, per departmental policy. Canty said disliked members of the Sheriff’s Office, or ones McFadden felt were disloyal, would be investigated.
Delgado said the sheriff made promises to inmates in violation of policy. Adams says unqualified people got positions in order to become informants to McFadden.
The petition says 81 deputies are needed for a single shift at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center and the number “the last few years” are frequently 30 to 40 or less. From a staff of 1,300 three years ago, petitioners say it is less than 800 today and “many officers left because of the intolerable work environment created by McFadden.”
Deaths at the jail in August and December of last year raised to 20 the number of inmates to die there since December 2018 when McFadden took office. For context, it’s double the number of predecessors Irwin Carmichael and Chipp Bailey.
Cunningham is seeking reelection for her District 106 seat. She’s challenged in the Super Tuesday primary by Vermanno Bowman and Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler, the latter of which on Monday just before the filing of the petition was endorsed by first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.