By Mark Price
The Charlotte Observer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a first, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say they caught two people driving a couch on Tryon Street.
It happened Friday, Sept. 25, and the responding officers were members of the Entertainment District Unit, which specializes in the things that only come out at night.
“They stopped two gentlemen traveling down S. Tryon Street on a couch. ... Yes, an actual couch. We had questions, too,” the department wrote in an Oct. 1 Facebook post.
A photo shared on social media shows the “vehicle” was a love seat expertly balanced on two Lime Electric Scooters. That meant both men were needed to steer it.
“While we appreciate the creativity, we do have to remind everyone: no matter what you’re ‘driving’ (using that term extremely loosely), please think about safety first,” CMPD wrote.
“Ask yourself: Should this be on a road … with actual cars … will the sheer shock of seeing this on the road cause other drivers to lose focus and drive unsafely? If the answer feels even slightly like ‘yes,’ maybe rethink the ride. As a rule – probably best to leave the mobile furniture displays to IKEA.”
Police didn’t say if the drivers were charged with any crime, like, maybe trafficking furniture or grand theft ottoman.
The Facebook post quickly took off on social media and had 1,700 comments and reactions within three hours, most of them jokes.
“Truly couch surfing,” Erin Thomen DiCola wrote.
“Do couches require insurance? Asking for a friend,” Lisa Thomas posted.
“Cops: ‘Pull over!’ Scooters: ‘No, it’s a pullout’,” Conrad Habermann said.
“Now that’s a convertible!” Robert Motrie wrote.
The Entertainment District Unit is a team created in 2025 to improve nightlife safety by targeting crime near bars, nightclubs, and sports and entertainment venues. “EDU officers are highly visible during peak nightlife hours, and work with venue employees and management to prevent issues before they start,” according to CMPD.
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