Fox News recently told a national audience that Asheville has seen a 31 percent increase in violent crime in the last five years. WebA man was injured during a shooting early Saturday morning at an apartment in Asheville. Asheville Watchdog dug into the citys crime statistics and found violent crime in Asheville disproportionately affects Blacks, especially young Blacks. Do tell. Asheville police spokesman Bill Davis said the department has had 16 robberies involving theft of a vehicle since the beginning of 2021. How did they try to intimidate you? An Asheville Police Department vehicle parked in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Nearly three-quarters were 29 or younger, and all but three were males. ? While NYC has seen its share of issues, he will not be returning to AVL. the mere fact that this is being presented nationally is disturbing and humilating. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. HOMICIDES DOWN BUT VIOLENT CRIME UP IN MAJOR US CITIES AS MIDTERMS APPROACH. ", Duncan further noted that when he was serving as county sheriff, "left-wing activists" from outside the community would sweep in to disrupt community meetings. And why did the tourists who overdosed on felonious drugs at the Grove Park last February not get charged? 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.". Asheville Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. We understand, the web can be a dangerous place! Nearly 60 percent of Ashevilles aggravated assault victims in 2020 were relatives or acquaintances of their attacker. And I think the community that is there now doesn't have that resolve. Is the violence centered in or near public housing? "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. I love Asheville and everything it offers but am sad to see the decline. People who live in Asheville generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest. Were pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. He pinpointed family pressures, a lack of community support and low pay in the expensive city as major factors pushing police to throw in the towel, but explained that APD has been working with the city to make salaries more competitive. (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. 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. WebASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) A man in Asheville is facing numerous charges after being accused of trafficking drugs. We share your inclination to get the whole story. Thats a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. All rights reserved. The Omni Grove Park Inn, built in 1913, is a historic resort hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, that has hosted several presidents. 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. (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. What are you even attempting to say? #46 in Best Places to Live. APD Officers responded to 41 reports of break-ins 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Asheville Crime and Safety | NewsBreak Asheville, NC Each year, aggravated assaults made up the majority of Ashevilles violent crimes, accounting for about two-thirds to nearly three-quarters. In a Facebook post, officers said that would be enough fentanyl for 625,000 lethal doses. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. The 31% increase is not current. "There's no stopping it unless you change what you're doing," Reece added. Last updated or reviewed on October 24, 2022. Lets Eat at Waynes Lunchbox in Spindale, N.C. 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He was quoted as saying, There certainly have been questions about support [for police] from elected officials, from the president of the United States right on down, so its not just local leaders.. #24 in Best Places to Retire. 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. Duncans successor, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, told Asheville Watchdog, Weve seen some violent crime numbers go up, but like Asheville Police, the Sheriffs Office saw a decline in violent crimes in 2021. 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 Biltmore Forest cop charged with child sex crime in South Carolina Crime perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Asheville may be as high as 1 in 18 in the central neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 51 in the northeast part of the city. 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. 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.. But I would have to think they would be more of the kind of smaller, petty types of things, not violent crime.. "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. Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. 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. "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. Asheville's Crime Problem is Real, and Laughing at Fox Change my mind. 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. All rights reserved. Trends Analytics. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. City police in Asheville, North Carolina, recently released new statistics that show rising violent crime trends in the Democrat-led tourist town have continued, increasing 34% year-to-date compared to last year and 29% over 2020. 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. Arrest 02/28/2023 11:00 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON DR Arrest 02/28/2023 7:30 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON DR Other 02/28/2023 3:36 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON DR Assault 02/28/2023 11:25 AM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON 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. Post Announcements News Police Asheville crime Asheville crime map Asheville Police crime map. The suspects left with more than $10,000 in merchandise and attempted to destroy the alarm system while inside, police said. 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. Of the reported robberies in 2020, 26 percent of the victims were strangers. He was identified as 42-year-old Joshua Kirk Spurgeon. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. 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. The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. What are the demographics of the offenders and victims, and are the weapons being used mostly guns? Asheville is largely a tourist driven economy and the city invests significant resources to promote it, which will be squandered if nothing is done. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Nearly three-quarters were 29 or younger, and all but three were males. While canvassing the area, officers located three shell casings along with damaged property. 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. Arrest 02/28/2023 11:00 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON This is a beautiful area and I hope that everyone will find a way to stop harming each other and visitors. Asheville, a city of about 90,000 people in the mountainous western region of North Carolina in Buncombe County, has also been hemorrhaging both city and county police officers in recent years. But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. NORTH CAROLINA PREGNANCY CENTER DEFIANT AFTER PRO-ABORTION VANDALISM: SPIRITUAL WARFARE, 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! (Fox News Digital). According to the police department, evidence showed that another suspect was involved in the robbery. "Officers overlook so many things because they know that it will go nowhere in court." Change your mind about what? And the most recent one-year look, from 2020 to 2021, shows a 6 percent decrease. How did they bully you? 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 Buncombe county commissioners have stood with me 100 percent, he said, supporting pay raises and new equipment. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Another chyron proclaimed TOWN BECOMING HUB OF ANTIFA. No, absolutely not., The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. Asheville police body camera video shows two online journalists being arrested during the homeless camp encampment sweep and a simultaneous protest in December 2021. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. 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. Duncan said in the segment that crime started to climb as those leftist politicians set an agenda that included reducing the jail population. He also said that "officers are very, very frustrated" with low bail. He also said Antifa and activists were active in Asheville and described the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 as riots.. 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. 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. I think overall the national trend is things are kind of getting back to normal. 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. or redistributed. KW you know the answer to thatwhite and maleand likely monied. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. 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. 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. 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 Miller said he has not encountered an anti-law enforcement sentiment. Crime Map for Asheville, NC. 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. What Ive learned over the years is you can apparently slice and dice crime data however youd like, Manheimer said.