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Authorities have charged the man who they was the subject of a north Charlotte FBI Safe Street Task Force operation on November 1st that resulted in one officer being shot.
Larry McConneyhead is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Possession of One or More Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, and Possession of One or More Firearms by a Convicted Felon.
On November 1st, authorities reportedly encountered McConneyhead in front of his home while attempting to execute a search warrant. The suspect ran back inside, officials say, where he barricaded himself until officers breached the garage door.
McConneyhead then confronted several team members while pointing a gun, officials say, which resulted in gunfire that injured a Gastonia Police Officer.
Authorities say they found multiple weapons inside the home, as well as evidence of McConneyhead trying to dispose of drug trafficking evidence. Reports say the suspect later admitted to flushing cocaine down the toilet.
McConneyhead is a ranking member of a Charlotte based biker gang that reportedly participates in the trafficking of large quantities of controlled substances, according to an affidavit, and has prior convictions in the State of North Carolina that included Trafficking in Cocaine (State) in 1994, and Kidnapping in Aid of Racketeering Activity and Use Carry Firearm in Relation to Drug Trafficking Crime (Federal) in 1996.
The search on November 1st was based on a charge of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, including more than 5 Kilograms of Cocaine, according to a Criminal Complaint filed on Friday.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Original Story (November 1, 2019):
CHARLOTTE, NC — A Gastonia Police Officer was shot Friday morning while attempting to serve a search warrant on a home in north Charlotte.
According to officials, the Gastonia officer works with the FBI Safe Street Task Force and was attempting to execute a search warrant at a home on Oakburn Drive around 6am as part of a criminal investigation.
While officers were approaching the home, shots were reportedly fired at authorities participating in the operation.
The Gastonia officer was hit in the arm and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Investigators are still trying to determine who all fired shots during the incident.
Friday afternoon, officials announced one of the two CMPD officers participating in the operation had been placed on administrative leave for her role in the shooting, which is standard procedure anytime an officer discharges their weapon. Officer Heather Loveridge has been with the department since June 2017.
The SBI is investigating the shooting. The FBI says they will continue to handle the criminal part of the investigation which prompted this morning’s operation.
CMPD says their Internal Affairs Bureau will also conduct a separate but parallel investigation to determine whether their policies and procedures were followed.
One person has been taken in for questioning, officials say.
The Safe Streets Task Force is a partnership between state and local partners conducting federal investigations. Officials say this particular task force focuses on gangs, drugs and organized crime.
This is an ongoing investigation. Check back for updates.
