CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Fire Department Dive Team recovered Demonta Deshawn Gaither’s body early this afternoon, from a pond near Billingsley Rd, following a call to police from Mr Gaither’s mother on Sunday, reporting him missing. She stated that he possibly jumped in to the pond after running from police last week and had not been seen since.
Another man, Cedric Young, who was with Mr. Gaither at the time of the incident cooperated with police and showed them exactly where Mr. Gaither entered the pond. Mr. Young stated that the police were no longer chasing him and Mr. Gaither when they entered the water nor did he ever observe Mr. Gaither exit the pond.
The original call to police occured on Thursday, April 24, when Providence Division Officers were dispatched to Eastover Ridge Drive with a report of two men seen attempting to break in to cars in the area. When officers arrived they saw two men matching the suspect’s description. The two men ran from the scene when officers attempted to make contact, which led to a brief foot pursuit. Officers chased the pair to a wood line in the area of Billingsley Road before losing sight of them. Police continued to search for the 2 suspects but it was quickly ended after it was determined that there wasn’t any evidence of a car break in on Eastover Ridge Drive.
