Sex offender in county park arrested

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sancho Johnson probably regrets taking a rest Tuesday morning on a bench at Charlotte's Fourth Ward Park.

Johnson is a registered sex offender and under a new ordinance that took effect on August 5, he was not supposed to be in the county park.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Vinton Simpson recognized Johnson from a previous encounter and remembered he was a sex offender when Simpson saw him in the park.

“At the time, I wasn’t even sure the new ordinance was in effect,” Simpson told Newschannel 36 reporter Rad Berky.

Sancho Johnson

But he quickly learned the ordinance was in effect and went into the park to break the news to Johnson by slapping handcuffs on him.

“He was not aware of the ordinance,” said Simpson. ”It was a big surprise to him.”

Johnson has several sexual offenses on his criminal history, including failing to register as a sexual offender.

Neighbors near the park applauded the arrest.

“It makes me feel better that he was caught,” said Katie Tempest, who was walking her dog at the park on Wednesday.

CMPD spokesman Bob Fey praised Simpson saying, “The rest is history, just outstanding work by the patrol officer."