asheville crime news asheville crime news

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 Since the beginning of this year, violent crime is increasing, Davis said. But the drug-dealing arrests in Buncombe thus far have not included Latinos. Joshua Kirk Spurgeon and Franklin Hairr (Courtesy of Asheville Police Department). 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. Trends Analytics. All rights reserved. For instance, Wilmington, a city of 115,000 people on North Carolinas east coast, had double the number of murders as Asheville but a lower overall violent crime rate: 685 violent crimes per 100,000 population versus Ashevilles 805. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. No, absolutely not., The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. "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. WebASHEVILLE A McDowell County man is among those snared in a sweeping investigation into drugs and guns in western North Carolina, federal officials said Monday. WebAlleged downtown Asheville bomb thrower has new court date Buncombe County Commissioners talk affordable housing, cryptocurrency Did Punxsutawney Phil lie? 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. It looks like you're using ad blocking technology. Black residents make up 11% of Ashevilles population but account for 31% of violent crime victims. Overall Score 6.4 /10. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting TIP2APD to 847411. 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. Crime Map for Asheville, NC. Market data provided by Factset. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. And its not typically random., Asheville Watchdog made 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 to talk to Fox News and said the exodus of more than 100 officers since May 2020 had limited the departments ability to be proactive and visible. What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. 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. Crime perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. Mayor Manheimer said, Fox News is doing their best to try to highlight these evil Democrat blue cities like New York and Chicago and L.A., and I guess now were going to focus on Asheville. For as little as $5 a month the cost of a craft beer or kombucha you can help keep local journalism strong. He was identified as 42-year-old Joshua Kirk Spurgeon. Youre not safe in your own home. And the reference to Asheville being among the most violent cities came from an analysis, also based on 2020 data, that combined all violent crimes a potentially misleading way to view the statistics, said Christopher Herrmann, an assistant professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Crime Map for Asheville, NC. Asheville, North Carolina Multiple local law enforcement sources who spoke to Fox News Digital laid partial blame for the deteriorating condition of a North Carolina tourist town on the city's liberal political leadership and on left-wing activists who undermine police. 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. Becky Tin is a retired district court judge and lawyer. Thats a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. Another chyron proclaimed TOWN BECOMING HUB OF ANTIFA.. Get out! In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced,violent crimedecreased. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. 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. Zack also said fentanyl in the region has gotten "out of control," and that the amount they have been taking off the street is "alarming." The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. An Asheville Police Department vehicle parked in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Lets Eat at Waynes Lunchbox in Spindale, N.C. 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WebA man was injured during a shooting early Saturday morning at an apartment in Asheville. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Duncan said inthe segmentthat crime started to climb as those leftist politicians set an agenda that included reducing the jail population. Asheville saw a21% increasein the homeless, or unhoused population, in 2022 over 2021, leading to the belief by some residents and visitors that downtown has become dangerous. Have any assaults been random, aimed at residents or tourists? Community Crime Map allows users to choose a date range to view criminal activity (up to one year), to select which crimes to view and the opportunity to sign up for a neighborhood watch report that automatically generates an email breakdown of recent criminal activity specific to a particular area. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. I think I will need to see some evidence on this, or at least hear an argument made. Rates of homelessness have increased 21% since 2021, according to data released in May. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I did see some peanuts being assaulted downtown the other day. Were pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. The officer laid particular blame on Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams, a Democrat whose office did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Hes not alone. But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. "Crime will continue to rise when there is no accountability for subjects of a crime," the officer said. View All 29 Photos . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 increased 13% statewide. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Change my mind. 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. And why did the tourists who overdosed on felonious drugs at the Grove Park last February not get charged? Youre not safe in your community. Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive. 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. "Our staff is working around the clock to follow up on instances of reports that have been taken.". Proven time after time. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) The Asheville Police Department arrested two people Thursday and is continuing to search for two more suspects. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Asheville Watchdogsent the police department a list of questions about the increases: How many are drug- or gang-related? We hope you give us a chance and whitelist our website. Crime information is available dating back to calendar year 2012. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. Legal Statement. They see people who are mentally unwell walking down the center of the street, talking to themselves, and they are fearful, Manheimer said. Patrol officers were walking around the area when they saw Mandy Blair Dixon, 36, Jamie Jean Furr, 39, and Franklin Hairr, 37, with some of the businesss property. HOMICIDES DOWN BUT VIOLENT CRIME UP IN MAJOR US CITIES AS MIDTERMS APPROACH. It refers to a period ending in 2020, when crime had increased nationwide. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Is our community unsafe as the picture is painted by Fox News? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Duncan said in the segment that crime started to climb as those leftist politicians set an agenda that included reducing the jail population. Is our community unsafe as the picture is painted by Fox News? The Asheville Police Department announced that officers seized 2.76 pounds of suspected fentanyl from a man on March 31. The jail population did decline, especially during the worst of Covid, as some non-violent inmates awaiting trial were released. Do tell. Multiple local law enforcement sources who recently spoke to Fox News Digital attributed some of the mass exodus to the city's liberal leadership and to left-wing activists who undermine police. Crime information can be viewed on a map or in a data grid. 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.. FORMER DEMOCRAT SHERIFF BLAMES ANTI-COP RHETORIC, BAIL REFORM FOR CRIME SURGE IN POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION, APD Chief David Zack recently told Fox News Digital that his department is down more than 100 sworn officers since May 2020, and that they are struggling to maintain visibility while "operating at almost 42% down every single day.". This is an ugly, racist, sexist comment, and its also BS. 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 Aggravated assaults are up 44 percent over the same period last year, and domestic-related aggravated assaults are up 64 percent, Davis said. Look at how the Buncombe commissioners talk about the main driver of crime; being Illegally Manufactured Fentanyl. Last updated or reviewed on October 24, 2022. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. Those numbers include a broad range of offenses. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. Whether, Fox News got it wrong or right, really should not matter if everything is in excellent order here at home! 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.. The 31 percent increase is not current. Theres no doubt that the social justice protests of 2020 and Covid have certainly strained all the police departments, Herrmann said. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. We want everyone to have access to our stories. ASHEVILLE - The city's violent crime has climbed to nearly double that of the national average, rising 31% in five years, according to recent police data that also It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. Please remember that.". Evil exists in Asheville, officers are surrounded by it, and they do their best with what they have. Police took Dixon and Furr were taken into custody. The Asheville Policecrime dashboardshows crimes against people down 10% in the past year and crimes against property down 20%. The Omni Grove Park Inn, built in 1913, is a historic resort hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, that has hosted several presidents. Skyline of downtown Asheville, North Carolina. There certainly are people that are at higher risk, Manheimer said. For instance, Wilmington, a city of 115,000 people on North Carolinas east coast, had double the number of murders as Ashevillebut a lower overall violent crime rate: 685 violent crimes per 100,000 population versus Ashevilles 805. Market data provided by Factset. All rights reserved. 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. WHY do they have NO ability to run a safe city ? While canvassing the area, officers located three shell casings along with damaged property. or redistributed. or redistributed. 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. The tool is called theCommunity Crime Map and is the result of a partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Both suspects were booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. Violent crime murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault went downin Asheville in 2021. There certainly are people that are at higher risk, Manheimer said. "And to do that, you have to have community resolve. The Asheville Police crime dashboard shows crimes against people down 10 percent in the past year and crimes against property down 20 percent. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. "Officers overlook so many things because they know that it will go nowhere in court." On July 4, a day after receiving a threatening email signed "ANTIFA," the APD arrested two suspects for allegedly attempting to bomb the former site of the Vance Monument, an obelisk dedicated to North Carolina's Civil War-time governor. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Activists also dropped off a coffin filled with dirt and animal manure in front of APD headquarters at the time. But the raging crime, carjackings and Mexican drug cartel activity described by Fox News? Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. Community Crime Map allows users to choose a date range to view criminal activity (up to one year), to select which crimes to view and the opportunity to sign up for a neighborhood watch report that automatically generates an email breakdown of recent criminal activity specific to a particular area. Asheville police spokesman Bill Davis said the department has had 16 robberies involving theft of a vehicle since the beginning of 2021. Information provided is the type of crime, the date the crime occurred, block-level address and the incident number. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The City of Asheville 70 Court Plaza P.O. I wear Foxs contempt for the town I was born in, raised in, and continue to live in, as a badge of honor! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. What Ive learned over the years is you can apparently slice and dice crime data however youd like, Manheimer said. Crime news: Asheville homicide suspect was just out of prison before murder charge; transferred back. Like other cities struggling with crime such as Los Angeles and New York City, Asheville has lost more than 100 officers since May 2020. Radical abortionist group pledges violence after Roe overturned; Kristi Brown joins 'The Story' with response. the mere fact that this is being presented nationally is disturbing and humilating. The only violent crime that has seen reductions is rape, down 28 percent, he said. The bookstore did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. APD Officers responded to 41 reports of break-ins When police departments add or lose officers, theres not a direct correlation in crime, Herrmann said. The new violent crime numbers, which include a 59% year-to-date spike in armed robberies compared to 2021, come as two suspects made local headlines this week, allegedly beating a man with a baseball bat and robbing him along a heavily trafficked avenue that runs north from downtown Asheville. We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he said. And the reference to Asheville being among the most violent cities came from an analysis, also based on 2020 data, that combined all violent crimes a potentially misleading way to view the statistics, said Christopher Herrmann, an assistant professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. 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. 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. He told Fox News Digital that police who do wrong must be held accountable, but also said officers both locally and around the country have become hesitant to do their jobs "because they can be right, but it can be the wrong set of facts, and they can still wind up in trouble. The victim drove himself to the hospital after being shot. Of the reported robberies in 2020, 26% of the victims were strangers. Much of Asheville's violent crime trend can be attributed to aggravated assaults, according to an APD spokesperson. See here for our terms of service. Asheville was rated among the top 10 U.S. travel destinations according to Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards in 2016, and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority recently spent $1.3million in local tax dollars to advertise at the 2022 U.S. Open. Youre not safe in your community. 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. Asheville, North Carolina. (pawel.gaul via Getty Images). WebASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) A man in Asheville is facing numerous charges after being accused of trafficking drugs. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. Post Announcements News Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion. But I would have to think they would be more of the kind of smaller, petty types of things, not violent crime.. Sheriff Miller said, Fentanyl is killing our folks locally, as it is across North Carolina and the U.S. "There's no stopping it unless you change what you're doing," Reece added. He also said that "officers are very, very frustrated" with low bail. Of 17 murders in Asheville in 2019 and 2020, 14 of the perpetrators and 12 of the victims were Black. Since the beginning of 2022, Asheville has seen an uptick in aggravated assaults, defined as attacking someone with the intent of causing severe injury. Former Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan, who retired as sheriff and left the Democratic Party in 2018, recently told "Fox & Friends First" co-host Todd Pirro that local "anti-law enforcement sentiment" has contributed to the problems with police retention.