Is crime a growing problem in midtown?

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - A man was arrested Friday morning in connection with a carjacking that took place in Mobile Thursday night. Cardell Lindsay, 19, was arrested after officers spotted him behind the wheel of a stolen car. Thursday night's carjacking is just the latest in several violent crimes in the midtown area.

In April, Kyser Miree was murdered inside his home on Macy Place. In June, Zoa White was brutally attacked and killed in her home on Springhill Avenue. Mobile Police believe they have the four men responsible for Miree’s murder, but White’s killer is still on the loose.

Thursday night's armed robbery and carjacking on South Carlen Street leads to the question... is midtwon a target for crime?

Captain DeWayne Hill with Mobile Police Department’s 3rd precinct doesn’t think so.

“Overall, the crime rate in that area is dropping and it has been dropping steadily. It appears that a few very well publicized violent crimes have overshadowed the great work that the community groups have done in this area,” said Hill.

Never-the-less, those who live in midtown are trying to watch out for one another. Groups like Historic Murphy District Association, A community awareness group (CAG) in midtown, are getting more and more interest in their monthly meetings. Michele Nolen-Schmidt is president of the association and has been busy helping others organize.

“Last night, another group got together at Ashland Place because they are concerned about some of the things and we went over to that meeting with the police and met with those folks to try and help them get organized,” Schmidt said.

Police say that the most important thing is to keep your eyes open and call them if you see anything suspicious. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Some residents, like Tom Hearder are already taking that advice.

“I saw a guy around a house on Dauphin Street, messing around with a box and he was wearing civilian clothes and I asked him…are you working? He goes, ya. I said, who do you work for and he said Comcast and he was and there was his truck and I felt terrible,” recalled Hearder.

Capt. Hill also said that citizen’s concerns are of top priority to the police.

“We’re interested in everything that’s a concern to our community members,” said Hill. “If it’s a concern to them, no matter how large or how small, we’re interested in it.”

So far, there are six CAGs just in the midtown area. Anyone who is interested in starting one in their neighborhood can get things rolling by contacting the Mobile Police Department.

Michele Nolen-Schmidt’s group can be contacted through their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HMDA.CAG .