CMPD Says It Fell Short In Responding To Drugging Situation

CHARLOTTE, NC — CMPD says it fell short in how it responded to a woman who showed up saying someone drugged her at an Uptown Charlotte bar.

“I’ve had women reach out to me who have been drugged there and raped. So, it’s a very real thing that happens,” said Leah McGuirk.

McGuirk says she did not even finish her first drink at Rooftop 210 before she started seizing on the flood of the bar. It was May 12 at 11:00 PM during a night out at the Epicentre with friends.

“My eyes apparently rolled in the back of my head,” said McGuirk. “The next thing I remember, I was opening up my eyes, and I was kind of still shaking.”

A friend took her home. She tried to report it at CMPD headquarters less than two weeks later.

“The police officer refused to help me file the report,” said McGuirk. “He told me that I need to go back to the scene of the crime and call 911.”

She says he even questioned why it took her so long to report it. So, she described that in a social media post.

CMPD saw it and assigned a detective five days later.

Friday, CMPD admitted fault and says they are rectifying it internally.

“It is not a response that this victim, woman, should have gotten,” said CMPD’s Rob Tufano. “There is no requirement for someone who may have been victimized in this nature to go back to the scene.”

Dozens contacted McGuirk saying it happened to them at Charlotte bars.

CMPD records do show six drink drugging crimes at the Epicentre this year.

Two of those ended in rape or sexual assault.

WCCB Charlotte spoke to the chief risk officer at Rooftop 210. He says he’s never heard of this happening there but says it’s about the safety of the employees and patrons there. He has a team trying to recover surveillance video to see if they can catch a suspect.

McGuirk wants the bar to add cameras to record the crowd and the bar.
Rooftop 210 says that’s done.

It has also requested CMPD add officers to the area and has reminded staff to watch for signs.

“It’s really alarming that this his happening and has been happening at such a staggering rate,” said McGuirk.

Police say it’s really hard to prosecute so come forward as soon as you suspect it so they can track statistics of the drugging.

It will also help because they can test your system for drugs and review surveillance video sooner.