asheville crime news asheville crime news

2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. News Buncombe County Courthouse, left, and Asheville City Hall, right, both of which are in the Downtown Asheville Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Asheville police offer tips to deter local business break-ins; What The crime information can be viewed on a map or a data grid. No, absolutely not., The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. Joshua Kirk Spurgeon and Franklin Hairr (Courtesy of Asheville Police Department). Placing Asheville's situation within the context of trends present in police departments across the U.S., he said the loss of officers accelerated following the protests that took place in the wake of George Floyd's death in 2020. Legal Statement. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. View crimes near me I think they're more of an enabling community, and I don't see it getting any better.". Asheville Asheville violent crime twice U.S. average, up 31%; but The one positive trend in the report is a reduction in gun crime. We hope youll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Furr was charged with conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense and felony possession of stolen property. (Fox News Digital). Another chyron proclaimed TOWN BECOMING HUB OF ANTIFA.. The 31 percent increase is not current. The Asheville Police Department announced that officers seized 2.76 pounds of suspected fentanyl from a man on March 31. In a Facebook post, officers said that would be enough fentanyl for 625,000 lethal doses. Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Asheville, NC The City of Asheville 70 Court Plaza P.O. Is downtown safe? "Crime will continue to rise when there is no accountability for subjects of a crime," the officer said. The officer also cited an overall lack of leadership and the "liberal agenda" of some county commissioners and members of city council. Spurgeon has been charged with conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense, possession of stolen goods, larceny after breaking & entering and felony breaking & entering, according to police. There were plenty of Republican-mayor cities with crime also going up, he said. Both the Asheville Police Department (APD) and the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office have been hemorrhaging officers in recent years, with many retiring early or simply quitting. Youre not safe walking down the sidewalk. And thats not the case in Asheville., Fox News host Tucker Carlson last weektook aim at Manheimer, whom he described as wearing complicated eyeglasses that all the girl bosses now wear. Under her leadership, Carlson claimed, Asheville as a beautiful place should have no crime, but it has a lot now. And he said Asheville had a lot of carjackings.. People who live in Asheville generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest. More people today are armed with weapons and guns, said Miller, an Asheville native. Democrat-run tourist town in North Carolina sees violent crime WebThe rate of crime in Asheville is 34.46 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Robberies are also up, 29 percent. Herrmann, a former crime analyst supervisor with the New York City Police Department, said he looked at crime statistics in cities with liberal and conservative majorities last year and found no discernible difference. What are the demographics of the offenders and victims, and are the weapons being used mostly guns? The robberies occurred in public and private places, including one-quarter in a street or alley, 16% in a residence, 15% in a parking lot or garage, and 10% in a convenience store. UNC Asheville takes on South Carolina Upstate in Big South Women accounted for nearly half of all violent crime victims in Asheville (46%), while men committed 80% of the crimes, according to data reported to the FBI for 2020, the latest year available. All rights reserved. In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced, violent crimedecreased. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Hairr or Spurgeon is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. Of the reported robberies in 2020, 26 percent of the victims were strangers. You mean to tell me that Fox news manipulated statistics to fit the narrative of their agenda? Zack told Fox News that Asheville is operating with nearly 42% fewer officers every single day.The department has 61 vacancies out of 238 sworn officers and another 26 in training or on leave, Davis said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Simplicity allows you to search for any address within the city limits of Asheville. Crime Map. Youre not safe walking down the sidewalk. And thats not the case in Asheville., Fox News host Tucker Carlson last week took aim at Manheimer, whom he described as wearing complicated eyeglasses that all the girl bosses now wear. Under her leadership, Carlson claimed, Asheville as a beautiful place should have no crime, but it has a lot now. And he said Asheville had a lot of carjackings.. Hes not alone. Asheville, North Carolina. (Daniell_Photography via Getty Images), Writing how he had come to believe that police were tasked beyond their capacity with "stopping societal issues and disorder," Wilson concluded that law enforcement solutions are merely "a Band-Aid" on such profound problems and that "strong communities are the real remedy. When police departments add or lose officers, theres not a direct correlation in crime, Herrmann said. There were plenty of Republican-mayor cities with crime also going up, he said. WebAsheville, North Carolina Crime Rate & Safety. Please remember that.". But are we ready for the day when Tucker Carlson and Ron DeSantis send busloads of extra people to Asheville? Those numbers include a broad range of offenses. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting TIP2APD to 847411. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. "And the first people who quit coming to those meetings were the people within the community. The bookstore did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) The Asheville Police Department arrested two people Thursday and is continuing to search for two more suspects. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Why and how is Tucker doing this and where do these extra people come from? Among many other features, SimpliCity provides crime statistics for the address. Fox News publishes article on Asheville's increase in violent crime Nearly 60% of Ashevilles aggravated assault victims in 2020 were relatives or acquaintances of their attacker. WebSince this Sub seems to only want to re-post Fox News specifically so they can deflect from the real crime problem Asheville has, here's the actual story of business owners fed up with daily human excrement, shoplifting, fentanyl use, overdosed people, fights, threats, and every quality-of-life crime imaginable right on their doorstep. The protests that roiled Asheville that summer were especially tense, with APD officers decked out in riot gear engaging in an hours-long standoff with protesters on a bridge leading into the city. Elected democrats DESTROY cities. Both suspects were booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Everything seems to be in line with the national trend, which was everyone had significant increases in 2020 when the pandemic hit and then some cities kept on going up a little bit in 2021, he said. What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. Sheriff Miller said, Fentanyl is killing our folks locally, as it is across North Carolina and the U.S. Last updated or reviewed on October 24, 2022. Buncombe County Courthouse, left, and Asheville City Hall, right, both of which are in the Downtown Asheville Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive. What are you even attempting to say? Democrat-run tourist town sees 200% surge in break-ins amid Xpress needs help, too. Asheville police spokesman Bill Davis said the department has had 16 robberies involving theft of a vehicle since the beginning of 2021. Asheville is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Buncombe County, North Carolina, and has seen a 31% surge in violent crime per 100,000 people from 2016 to 2020. Using the tool residents can view a map and grid with all of the crimes in their area and sign up for neighborhood watch reports that automatically email a breakdown of recent crime activity. Market data provided by Factset. Asheville has so far seen 11 homicides in 2022, setting it on pace to surpass the homicide rate of 2021 and 2020. Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. The suspects left with more than $10,000 in merchandise and attempted to destroy the alarm system while inside, police said. Heres what the stats do say about crime in Asheville and whos at risk: Herrmann reviewed Ashevilles crime statistics forAsheville Watchdog. We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he said. But the drug-dealing arrests in Buncombe thus far have not included Latinos. The tool is called theCommunity Crime Map and is the result of a partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. APD released the latest statistics to WLOS after Fox News Digital published a report last week about how violent crime in the historic mountain town skyrocketed 31% per 100,000 people between 2016 and 2020 nearly double the national average and 18 percentage points higher than North Carolina's 13% increase statewide during the same period. Updated: Apr 25, 2022 / 11:12 AM EDT ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) The Asheville Police Department arrested two people Thursday and is continuing to search for two more suspects. Do the people involved have criminal histories for violence or drugs? "I think what you're seeing in Asheville right now is a culmination of the last several years of pulling police back and not letting them do their jobs like they're able to do," former Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan told Fox News Digital in a phone interview. Asheville Police Department releases online crime statistics It looks like you're using ad blocking technology. However, our ads are for local businesses and are unobstrusive. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. A dozen men in big, smelly trucks are making Asheville a more dangerous place? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. or redistributed. While canvassing the area, officers located three shell casings along with damaged property. Black residents make up 11% of Ashevilles population but account for 31% of violent crime victims. "There's no stopping it unless you change what you're doing," Reece added. I have been threatened by at least a dozen men, all with Trump cult merch either on their persons or their big loud smelly ridiculous trucks, simply for standing up to them as they bully and attempt to intimidate. Nearly three-quarters were 29 or younger, and all but three were males. Through the investigation, officers learned that Hair was recently charged with assault on female and common law robbery in an unrelated assault and robbery crime in the area. We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he said. Email skestin@avlwatchdog.org. Thats tough to believe.. But the raging crime, carjackings and Mexican drug cartel activity described by Fox News? (Walter Bibikow via Getty Images). You can take five-year snapshots, ten-year snapshots, one-year, year-over-year.. Nesbitt maintained that local Antifa has worked its way into colleges and universities throughout western North Carolina, and that figures sympathetic to Antifa have risen to positions of power on the city council, which did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on his allegation. Asheville's growth in violent crime is nearly double that of the national average and ranks among the highest in North Carolina, where violent crime has He recounted that county police recently made the biggest fentanyl bust in Buncombe County history until APD made a bigger bust weeks later. Is the violence centered in or near public housing? I had a friend come down for a visit this summer from NYC (he was last in AVL in 2018); he and his wife were threatened by a homeless person and he asked me what happened to Asheville. The officer predicted the situation in the Asheville area is headed "downhill quickly" without a change in leadership. (Kristin Ramsey/EyeEm). Skyline of downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. The Asheville Police Department (APD) says officers But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Youre not safe in your own home. Asheville saw a 21 percent increase in the homeless, or unhoused population, in 2022 over 2021, leading to the belief by some residents and visitors that downtown has become dangerous. Women accounted for nearly half of all violent crime victims in Asheville (46 percent), while men committed 80 percent of the crimes, according to data reported to the FBI for 2020, the latest year available. Market data provided by Factset. Are armed gang members or drug dealers coming into Asheville from Charlotte, Atlanta or other cities? We want everyone to have access to our stories. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Hairr, who ran from the scene, was charged with possession of stolen goods, possession of burglary tools, resist, delay, and/or obstruct law enforcement, larceny after breaking & entering and felony breaking & entering, according to officers. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. CRIME SOARS IN DEM-RUN TOURIST TOWN, said the chyron. The only violent crime that has seen reductions is rape, down 28%, he said. And its not typically random., Asheville Watchdogmade three requests over two days to interview Asheville Police Chief David Zack about crime trends, but Davis said he has a very busy schedule., Zack did find time totalk to Fox Newsand said the exodus of more than 100 officers since May 2020 had limited the departments ability to be proactive and visible. How did they try to intimidate you? Of the reported robberies in 2020, 26% of the victims were strangers. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Furman uses a 32-6 second half run to defeat Mercer, NC schools see spike in reported violence numbers, Chase Elliott out of NASCAR indefinitely after tibia, Chris Rock to finally have his say in new stand-up, Hornung hits go-ahead 3-run HR in 7th to lead #23, CCES rolls past Scotts Branch 63-41 to win 1A Boys, Behind solo HRs from Ingle and Abrams, Clemson hands, NASCAR star Chase Elliott hurts leg in snowboarding, The Foreign Landers Perform on Your Carolina, NorthStar Financial Wants you to be Ready for Retirement. Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. Since the beginning of 2022, Asheville has seen an uptick in aggravated assaults, defined as attacking someone with the intent of causing severe injury. Trends Analytics. You can choose from several pre-selected date ranges and define the radius of your search parameter from an eighth of a mile to a mile. From Asheville Watchdog: Fox News reports Asheville is crime-ridden, dangerous, Q&A: Regions top principal discusses her lifes devotion to education, Workers tell city leaders about fear and frustration over downtown crime, violence, From Asheville Watchdog: Merchants describe downtown Ashevilles descent into squalor and lawlessness, Fellowship to expand number of lawyers versed in evictions, housing issues, Safety, transit concerns raised at first Asheville budget meeting, Development roundup: Urgent care clinic, workforce housing proposed forCharlotte Highway. "Even though we were making good strides in the community and reducing the crime rate, we still saw ourselves coming in as a negative in the community in the eyes of some of the leftist politicians that were getting elected at that time," Duncan said. Its a little bit of a leap to suggest that cops have this much of a crime-fighting skill, he said. Leaders need to be honest about what happening and address it. Evil exists in Asheville, officers are surrounded by it, and they do their best with what they have. Manheimer said Ashevilles police department is understaffed, and were working hard to build back the ranks to be able to keep our community safe and respond to calls for service when the call is made.. Its a little bit of a leap to suggest that cops have this much of a crime-fighting skill, he said. Democratic Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment by time of publication. The 31% increase is not current. Manheimer said Ashevilles police department is understaffed, and were working hard to build back the ranks to be able to keep our community safe and respond to calls for service when the call is made.. Crime soars in Democrat-run tourist town in North Carolina. Asheville's Crime Problem is Real, and Laughing at Fox Joey Reece, who is now retired after serving 12 years as a state trooper and another 22 years as an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the area, reflected sadly to Fox News Digital how Asheville has declined since he grew up there. APD Officers responded to 41 reports of break-ins Miller said he has not encountered an anti-law enforcement sentiment. ", Zack also noted that fewer people even want to become police officers anymore, leading to what he described as "a hamster wheel of losing people and trying to replace them at the same time. Crime Map. When you tell me that your assaults are up, Im going to say you dont really know that because almost half of your assaults are probably not reported.. Crime perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. Crime Chief Zack, through Davis, answered one question: There are loosely-organized, neighborhood-specific groups that could fall under a broad definition of gangs here in Asheville. But within those groups, the chief said it was doubtful that police could build a case to prosecute members under the federal racketeering law designed to combat organized crime. Officers also seized more than $10,000 in cash, a brick press, a vacuum sealer and a blender. Basic information about the incidents, such as the type of crime, location type, block-level address, and date and time, is also available. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Is downtown safe? The only violent crime that has seen reductions is rape, down 28 percent, he said. "It's devastating what they've done here in town and the Asheville area," Nesbitt said of Antifa, whose activity he has followed closely ever since he was nearly killed during protests downtown following the verdict in the Breonna Taylor case in 2020. "Personally, I think that is the agenda of the left: for law enforcement not to be able to do anything that's effective and makes the community safer," he added. The Omni Grove Park Inn, built in 1913, is a historic resort hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, that has hosted several presidents. Crime in Asheville - Asheville, NC Crime Map | SpotCrime But the sheriff said, We didnt see an increase as far as crimes being committed., An online version of the Fox News report said, without citing any details, that there was evidence in Asheville of increased Mexican drug cartel activity in the area, according to multiple law enforcement sources who spoke to Fox News Digital.. The jail population did decline, especially during the worst of Covid, as some non-violent inmates awaiting trial were released. Cities across the country are hiring after losing officers in the past couple of years. Each year, aggravated assaults made up the majority of Ashevilles violent crimes, accounting for about two-thirds to nearly three-quarters. the mere fact that this is being presented nationally is disturbing and humilating. Market data provided by Factset. The rising rate of crime in Asheville has landed the city of approximately 90,000 people in the top 10% most violent cities in America, according to FBI crime data. Nesbitt said local Antifa have used Floyd's death "as an excuse to bring anarchy to this city," and pinpointed Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville as the nexus of their activity. Arrest 02/28/2023 11:00 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON For what purpose? Violent crime has surged 34% since last year in Democrat-run Asheville, North Carolina, according to statistics released by city police following a Fox News Digital The segment featured ex-Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan, a former Democrat who blamed leftist politicians for what he said was anti-police sentiment in Asheville. Email [emailprotected]. But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. Duncan said inthe segmentthat crime started to climb as those leftist politicians set an agenda that included reducing the jail population. Asheville Crime Map | Interactive Crime Mapping in NC Asheville Of 17 murders in Asheville in 2019 and 2020, 14 of the perpetrators and 12 of the victims were Black. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Four police press releases or news reports in the past two years mentioned carjackings, including one inFebruary 2022, when police said a man forced a 91-year-old woman from her car and drove away. It only takes a moment. Crime news: Asheville homicide suspect was just out of prison before murder charge; transferred back. Radical abortionist group pledges violence after Roe overturned; Kristi Brown joins 'The Story' with response. Four police press releases or news reports in the past two years mentioned carjackings, including one in February 2022, when police said a man forced a 91-year-old woman from her car and drove away. Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. There is also evidence of increased Mexican drug cartel activity in the area, according to multiple law enforcement sources who spoke to Fox News Digital. When you tell me that your assaults are up, Im going to say you dont really know that because almost half of your assaults are probably not reported.. Asheville Local | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WLOS WebThe Citizen-Times, Asheville Sentencing: Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son Biltmore Forest cop charged with child sex crime in South Carolina Rezoning One in five were strangers. Theres no doubt that the social justice protests of 2020 and Covid have certainly strained all the police departments, Herrmann said. Dixon has a $5,000 bond and Furrs bond is $15,500. Asheville police told News 13 on Friday that the amount of suspected narcotics recovered along with the potential for what could have been six deaths has given them cause for concern. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. They see people who are mentally unwell walking down the center of the street, talking to themselves, and they are fearful, Manheimer said. I think overall the national trend is things are kind of getting back to normal. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Of 17 murders in Asheville in 2019 and 2020, 14 of the perpetrators and 12 of the victims were Black. The Asheville Policecrime dashboardshows crimes against people down 10% in the past year and crimes against property down 20%. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. Fox News: Asheville Is Crime-Ridden, Dangerous "And to do that, you have to have community resolve. Neither the Asheville City Council nor the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. For as little as $5 a month the cost of a craft beer or kombucha you can help keep local journalism strong. HOMICIDES DOWN BUT VIOLENT CRIME UP IN MAJOR US CITIES AS MIDTERMS APPROACH. Asheville Watchdog dug into the citys crime statistics and found violent crime in Asheville disproportionately affects Blacks, especially young Blacks. What is Trump cult merch? The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. We're already in the top 10% of violent cities in America.". Do the people involved have criminal histories for violence or drugs? NWS conducts damage survey on severe storms, Portions of Calif. home hang over cliff after landslide, Family of cold-case victim gets justice after 40, Car buyers frustrated after dealership closes, Murdaugh judges own legal story unfolded in South, Man arrested after 2 found dead inside business, Deputies release footage of shooting involving teen, New Jersey trooper shooting suspect caught in South, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. Those numbers include a broad range of offenses. But the sheriff said, We didnt see an increase as far as crimes being committed., Anonline versionof the Fox News report said, without citing any details, that there was evidence in Asheville of increased Mexican drug cartel activity in the area, according to multiple law enforcement sources who spoke to Fox News Digital.. Seems like everyone holding their breath for the Asheville-Buncombe Public Safety Strategy is a weird and scary interregnum. The officer claimed Williams' office often doesn't charge criminals at all or reduces felony charges to misdemeanors. 0:57. when the house of cards comes crashing down. It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. "So when officers have to work under those conditions, when they're out there really serving the community well, and we see high dismissal rate with the district attorney, low cash bail or no bail for these folks who are just being turned back loose into the community, it becomes very frustrating for the officers," he continued.