CHARLOTTE, N.C.-For the first time in three years, Hilda Hurtado brought her family to Speed Street in Uptown Charlotte. "I think its really a safe environment. I think it's really safe. I really do," she said.

While Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police patrolled the crowded streets, they also scanned social media. We found multiple users discussed the possibility of violence this weekend. C.M.P.D. tracks sites like Twitter and Facebook regularly during Speed Street and the rest of the year. Police say it can be a challenge to decode the messages. "Many times we find its just bravado showing itself or people trying to get action generated," said Maj. Jeff Estes.

C.M.P.D. says what they find online is one aspect of the intelligence they collect. They also work with tips that come from the public and school resource officers to determine how they respond.

On Thursday night, Walter Torres and his family weren't concerned. "My friends and family told me let's go and have some fun. If something happens we'll go to the side and let police take care of everything else," he said.

Police in Charlotte won't release the number of officers they have on the ground this year and how it compares to Speed Street last year.