GASTONIA, N.C. — The Gastonia Police Department says three people are in custody after they allegedly beat a man with his hands, feet, and mouth taped together. The incident happened on North Chester Street near the downtown area.
Businesses in the area told WCNC Charlotte's Austin Walker there's more to this story than what's in the police report.
Scott Cavendish is a business owner in Gastonia and for eight years, he's been asking the same questions about crime in Gastonia.
“All of the business owners are at a complete loss," Cavendish said. "I don’t know what to do. There’s a huge problem here. What do you do when someone breaks into your place and steals your stuff?”
Cavendish said there's a crime issue in Gastonia and an incident that happened Monday is just the latest example.
Cavendish spoke to the owner of El Guero Mechanic Shop. That's the business where the incident occurred. He said the report failed to mention the employees were trying to protect the business.
For multiple days now, the owner of the shop said someone had been stealing stereos out of the cars they were working on. Some have also been smashing car windows.
"After a few nights of calling the police and nothing happening, and reports given and no action,' Cavendish said.
He said the staff took it into their own hands.
“I have no doubt they tried to apprehend him, I know they were pissed too," Cavendish said.
Cavendish said this is just a small piece of the larger issue at play.
“The owners will give the police the footage and give them footage and pictures, and give them the address when they follow them home, and police won’t do anything," Cavendish said. "The response is they have to catch them in the act. I've called the police and they won't talk to me about the crime problem."
We asked Gastonia Police if this action was taken as a defense mechanism. WCNC Charlotte was referred back to the police report.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.