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. Zack told Fox News that Asheville is operating with nearly 42 percent 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. The only violent crime that has seen reductions is rape, down 28%, he said. The Buncombe county commissioners have stood with me 100 percent, he said, supporting pay raises and new equipment. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. Are armed gang members or drug dealers coming into Asheville from Charlotte, Atlanta or other cities? South Carolina Upstate Spartans (16-14, 10-8 Big South) vs. UNC Asheville Bulldogs (25-7, 16-2 Big South) Charlotte, North Carolina; Saturday, 12 p.m. (pawel.gaul via Getty Images). 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.. Cities across the country are hiring after losing officers in the past couple of years. 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. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) The Asheville Police Department arrested two people Thursday and is continuing to search for two more suspects. 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. All rights reserved. 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. "Crime will continue to rise when there is no accountability for subjects of a crime," the officer said. Police took Dixon and Furr were taken into custody. 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. A dawn view of the skyline in Asheville, North Carolina, which has seen rising trends of violent crime in recent years. Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. In a Facebook post, officers said that would be enough fentanyl for 625,000 lethal doses. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. (George Rose via Getty Images), "I certainly think that with the losses that we have, our ability to be proactive and also our ability to be visible are partly causing some of the increases," the chief said of rising violent crime. He also said that "officers are very, very frustrated" with low bail. Much of Asheville's violent crime trend can be attributed to aggravated assaults, according to an APD spokesperson. "The Asheville Police Department takes this very, very seriously," Capt. 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. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The information can be downloaded into a .csv file. 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. "There's no stopping it unless you change what you're doing," Reece added. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Market data provided by Factset. He recounted that county police recently made the biggest fentanyl bust in Buncombe County history until APD made a bigger bust weeks later. There were plenty of Republican-mayor cities with crime also going up, he said. It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. Is downtown safe? "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. Trends Analytics. Its a little bit of a leap to suggest that cops have this much of a crime-fighting skill, he said. Do tell. In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced,violent crimedecreased. Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. Story tips can be sent to jon.brown@fox.com. Aggravated assaults are up 44% over the same period last year, and domestic-related aggravated assaults are up 64%, Davis said. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Hairr or Spurgeon is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. Youre not safe in your community. 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. "They would really try to get into it with the police, and a lot of times, they would try to shout down things," he said. 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. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. What are the demographics of the offenders and victims, and are the weapons being used mostly guns? (Fox News Digital), Nesbitt said Antifa activists from other major cities throughout North Carolina congregate in Asheville, and that the members of the organization who believe in political violence "will try to instigate some of the dumbest people to do something very stupid. 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. What are the demographics of the offenders and victims, and are the weapons being used mostly guns? 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. In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced, violent crimedecreased. But the drug-dealing arrests in Buncombe thus far have not included Latinos. The Asheville Police crime dashboard shows crimes against people down 10 percent in the past year and crimes against property down 20 percent. The citys crime 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. Story tips can be sent to jon.brown@fox.com. Becky Tin is a retired district court judge and lawyer. Are armed gang members or drug dealers coming into Asheville from Charlotte, Atlanta or other cities? 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. WebThe rate of crime in Asheville is 34.46 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Crime statistics dont provide the full picture of crime in a city. Both suspects were booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. (Walter Bibikow via Getty Images). More people today are armed with weapons and guns, said Miller, an Asheville native. I wear Foxs contempt for the town I was born in, raised in, and continue to live in, as a badge of honor! 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. Also reacting to FOX is a crazy place to try to launch into the reality of anything at all serious where ethics and folks lives are on the table. Theres no doubt that the social justice protests of 2020 and Covid have certainly strained all the police departments, Herrmann said. Community Crime Map provides basic information about the incidents, including the type of crime, location type, block-level address, date and time. I think overall the national trend is things are kind of getting back to normal. "And to do that, you have to have community resolve. All rights reserved. No, absolutely not., The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. 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. Trends Analytics. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. WebAlleged downtown Asheville bomb thrower has new court date Buncombe County Commissioners talk affordable housing, cryptocurrency Did Punxsutawney Phil lie? Whether, Fox News got it wrong or right, really should not matter if everything is in excellent order here at home! Seems like everyone holding their breath for the Asheville-Buncombe Public Safety Strategy is a weird and scary interregnum. But the question then is really whats the new normal going to be?. An Asheville Police Department vehicle parked in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. The jail population did decline, especially during the worst of Covid, as some non-violent inmates awaiting trial were released. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. He also said Antifa and activists were active in Asheville and described the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 as riots.. You mean to tell me that Fox news manipulated statistics to fit the narrative of their agenda? Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, CRIME SOARS IN DEM-RUN TOURIST TOWN, said the chyron. the mere fact that this is being presented nationally is disturbing and humilating. Change my mind. There certainly are people that are at higher risk, Manheimer said. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. 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. Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive. 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. We understand, the web can be a dangerous place! 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. Thats tough to believe.. or redistributed. Like other cities struggling with crime such as Los Angeles and New York City, Asheville has lost more than 100 officers since May 2020. Asheville Crime Map | Interactive Crime Mapping in NC Asheville Crime Map Crimes Since Jan. 1, 2022 Tips for Using this Map Select a pinpoint to view a pop Miller said he has not encountered an anti-law enforcement sentiment. Simplicity allows you to search for any address within the city limits of Asheville. I truly hope that Asheville, NC being a very small tourist city, really does have a safety first attitude! Since the beginning of this year, violent crime is increasing, Davis 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. According to the police department, evidence showed that another suspect was involved in the robbery. ", "After 10 years at APD, I can say confidently that APD officers are good people with good hearts," he wrote. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Of 17 murders in Asheville in 2019 and 2020, 14 of the perpetrators and 12 of the victims were Black. Each year, aggravated assaults made up the majority of Ashevilles violent crimes, accounting for about two-thirds to nearly three-quarters. 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. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. They see people who are mentally unwell walking down the center of the street, talking to themselves, and they are fearful, Manheimer said. Asheville once touted as a top I think I will need to see some evidence on this, or at least hear an argument made. Is our community unsafe as the picture is painted by Fox News? Putting aside medias typical hunt for headline and misinformation, we have all seen the increase in real and perceived crime over the past 5 years. When police departments add or lose officers, theres not a direct correlation in crime, Herrmann said. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Crime Map. Arrest 02/28/2023 11:00 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. 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. ASHEVILLE, N.C. Police in Asheville, North Carolina, arrested a man last week and seized enough fentanyl to kill over 600,000 people, detectives said. But the raging crime, carjackings and Mexican drug cartel activity described by Fox News? Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. Neither the Asheville City Council nor the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The City of Asheville 70 Court Plaza P.O. "Or Asheville will soon become a non-entity. Heres what the stats do say about crime in Asheville and whos at risk: Blacks make up 11 percent of Ashevilles population but account for 31 percent of violent crime victims. (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. 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. The Omni Grove Park Inn, built in 1913, is a historic resort hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, that has hosted several presidents. "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. Crime Map. WebAsheville, North Carolina Crime Rate & Safety. A dozen men in big, smelly trucks are making Asheville a more dangerous place? Asheville pregnancy center reacts to Jane's Revenge's threat of militant behavior. All rights reserved. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. Asheville and Western North Carolina news, investigative reporting, city and county government news. Market data provided by Factset. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Community Crime Map automatically syncs with the Asheville Police Departments records system to keep crime information up-to-date. Is downtown safe? Aggravated assaults are up 44 percent over the same period last year, and domestic-related aggravated assaults are up 64 percent, Davis said. POLICE IN NORTH CAROLINA TOURIST TOWN REVEAL WORSENING VIOLENT CRIME STATS FOLLOWING FOX NEWS REPORT Chuckie McKelvey, who Look at how the Buncombe commissioners talk about the main driver of crime; being Illegally Manufactured Fentanyl. We hope youll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. The one positive trend in the report is a reduction in gun crime. The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. 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. APD Chief David Zack told Fox News Digital that the reasons behind the steady flood of resignations in his department are complicated and multi-faceted. 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 "Evil is real. The Buncombe county commissioners have stood with me 100%, he said, supporting pay raises and new equipment. I sent them the IMF death toll numbers from NC DHHS yesterday. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. Black residents make up 11% of Ashevilles population but account for 31% of violent crime victims. Duncan said in the segment that crime started to climb as those leftist politicians set an agenda that included reducing the jail population. 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. And the most recent one You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. Miller said he has not encountered an anti-law enforcement sentiment. What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. One in five were strangers. 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.. Rates of homelessness have increased 21% since 2021, according to data released in May. Email [emailprotected]. 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. 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. Manheimer said some people suspect crimes in Asheville are going unreported because of the police departments decision, beginning in June 2021, tono longer respondin-person to calls about theft, fraud and other non-serious crimes due to staffing shortages.