A traffic stop in Charlotte's North Tryon Division on March 5 went from routine to serious in a hurry, according to police, after officers said they spotted a gun sitting in plain view inside a car on Hillsboro Avenue.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says North Tryon Division officers pulled over a vehicle in the 4900 block of Hillsboro Avenue and quickly noticed a firearm visible inside. Once officers reported smelling narcotics, they searched the vehicle and say they found three handguns, one of them allegedly modified with a switch device, along with about 17 grams of suspected marijuana. Three people were arrested and the vehicle was seized.
What Officers Say They Found
CMPD says the stop happened on March 5 in the 4900 block of Hillsboro Avenue and was handled by North Tryon Division officers. In a social media post, the department reports that officers saw a firearm in plain view, detected the odor of narcotics and then conducted a search of the vehicle.
That search, according to the department, turned up three handguns, including one reported to have a switch device attached, and approximately 17 grams of suspected marijuana. The incident is logged under report number 20260305-1706-01, and police note that the vehicle involved was seized.
How This Fits Recent CMPD Street Policing
This stop is the latest in a run of CMPD encounters where a simple traffic check has ended with guns taken off the street instead of just a warning or citation. In December, WSOC‑TV reported that an operation in north Charlotte led to four arrests and the recovery of multiple firearms after officers moved in on what they described as suspicious activity.
Arrests And Charges
According to CMPD News, the three people arrested in the Hillsboro Avenue stop are 22-year-old Malik Decarri DeBrue, 18-year-old Jalen DeBrue and 21-year-old Kendis Anthony Perry.
CMPD says Malik DeBrue was served with outstanding warrants that include felony conspiracy and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon. In connection with this traffic stop, the department reports that he was also charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, possession of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon.
The other two men, according to the department, were arrested on weapon-related allegations and cited for a window-tint violation. All three are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
Legal Notes On Weapons Of Mass Destruction
State law treats possession or manufacture of certain weapons as a serious felony. North Carolina lays out its rules for weapons of mass destruction, including prohibitions on nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, in Article 36B of the General Statutes. The law defines which weapons fall into that category and details the penalties for violations. The full text is available through the North Carolina General Assembly.
What Happens Next
Court filings and booking records in the coming weeks will show how far prosecutors decide to take the case, including whether they pursue formal indictments or additional charges. CMPD has asked that anyone with information about the stop reach out through the department's non-emergency channels.
