I do agree the politics seem liberal, but I dont live here for the politics. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. UNC Asheville takes on South Carolina Upstate in Big South Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? 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. ? While NYC has seen its share of issues, he will not be returning to AVL. See here for our terms of service. Asheville Crime and Safety | NewsBreak Asheville, NC The suspects left with more than $10,000 in merchandise and attempted to destroy the alarm system while inside, police said. This is a beautiful area and I hope that everyone will find a way to stop harming each other and visitors. Joshua Kirk Spurgeon and Franklin Hairr (Courtesy of Asheville Police Department). 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. 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. or redistributed. I love Asheville and everything it offers but am sad to see the decline. "It's just been like a perfect storm of events and circumstances that are driving officers out of the profession who have a significant amount of time and experience invested. WebASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) New data from the Asheville Police Department (APD) shows the city's violent crimes are up 34% this year compared to 2021. Are armed gang members or drug dealers coming into Asheville from Charlotte, Atlanta or other cities? The information can be downloaded into a .csv file. Asheville Local | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WLOS Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion. Youre not safe in your community. Do tell. Asheville news Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. Change your mind about what? WebWLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for The tool is called theCommunity Crime Map and is the result of a partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. But are we ready for the day when Tucker Carlson and Ron DeSantis send busloads of extra people to Asheville? Nearly three-quarters were 29 or younger, and all but three were males. Get out! And the most recent one-year look, from 2020 to 2021, shows a 6 percent decrease. 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. 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. Asheville Watchdog: Fox News Misstates Stats, Claiming "Asheville Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. There certainly are people that are at higher risk, Manheimer said. Robberies are also up, 29 percent. The 31% increase is not current. 0:57. The Biltmore Estate, built in 1895, is the largest privately owned house in the U.S. and the biggest tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina. I think I will need to see some evidence on this, or at least hear an argument made. 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. I am scared of nobody but THIS is what is making Asheville a more dangerous place to live. "The Asheville Police Department takes this very, very seriously," Capt. Duncan, who was a longtime registered Democrat, retired as sheriff and became politically unaffiliated in 2018, citing "an anti-law enforcement sentiment in the Democratic Party right now," according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. Both suspects were booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. Seems like everyone holding their breath for the Asheville-Buncombe Public Safety Strategy is a weird and scary interregnum. The only violent crime that has seen reductions is rape, down 28 percent, he said. Zack said the APD has lost more than 100 sworn officers since May 2020, which he noted is roughly equivalent to 600 years of experience walking out the door. Story tips can be sent to jon.brown@fox.com. 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. Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. 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.". Crime Map for Asheville, NC. 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. Ashevilles 5-year violent crime rate cited by Fox News, a 31% increase from 2016 to 2020, becomes a 15% increase from 2017 to 2021. 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. The victim drove himself to the hospital after being shot. 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. 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. Officers also seized more than $10,000 in cash, a brick press, a vacuum sealer and a blender. But the raging crime, carjackings and Mexican drug cartel activity described by Fox News? 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. 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. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. "Our staff is working around the clock to follow up on instances of reports that have been taken.". "Officers overlook so many things because they know that it will go nowhere in court." Crime perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. 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. APD Officers responded to 41 reports of break-ins Asheville But the violence, the mayor said, is fairly isolated in our community. 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. Fox News last week told a national audience that Asheville has seen a 31% increase in violent crime in the last five years. Asheville, North Carolina. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! WebA man was injured during a shooting early Saturday morning at an apartment in Asheville. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. ASHEVILLE - A lieutenant with the Biltmore Forest Police Department turned himself in after he was charged with a child sex crime in South But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. A dawn view of the skyline in Asheville, North Carolina, which has seen rising trends of violent crime in recent years. HOMICIDES DOWN BUT VIOLENT CRIME UP IN MAJOR US CITIES AS MIDTERMS APPROACH. I think they're more of an enabling community, and I don't see it getting any better.". "And the first people who quit coming to those meetings were the people within the community. Police in North Carolina tourist town reveal worsening violent Police took Dixon and Furr were taken into custody. Fox News last week told a national audience that Asheville has seen a 31 percent increase in violent crime in the last five years.