Perhaps the most iconic mugshot in Mecklenburg County history, this man wore his beanie hat during arrest, due to new religious freedom policy
Donte Mccallister, 36, wore a beanie hat when he was arrested on February 19, 2026 in Charlotte, NC at the Mecklenburg County Jail. The jail just instituted a new policy that allows inmates to wear head coverings due to religious freedom. It is unknown what religion Donte is, but he was able to keep his hat on during the arrest photo due to the ridiculous jail policy. Charlotte Alerts is on Instagram.
Donte is accused of using a fraudulent cashiers check to pay his rent and late fees to property owner My Niche Apartments. Management at the apartments noticed the check and contacted police.
Donte was arrested charged with obtaining property by false pretense.
The entire policy allowing inmates to wear hats and head coverings during mugshots is the result of when muslim woman Laila El Ali was arrested in Charlotte during a protest of the Hamas Gaza war at the city council office.
Jail guards made Laila take off her muslim religion head covering during her arrest, but she told them taking it off was against her religion.
Laila spent some time in jail and was later released. She eventually sued the Mecklenburg County Jail for violating her religious right, Embattled Sheriff Garry Mcfadden decided to settle the lawsuit and change the jail policy to allow inmates to wear the hats and head coverings if religious rights are claimed.
There was never any court order or legal judgment to make the jail allow arrestees to wear head coverings.
