We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he said. Please remember that.". @ Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library, @ Black Mountain, Leicester, Weaverville Libraries, Allegiant Announces New Nonstop Route to Arizona, Recovering North Carolinas Bill of Rights, The NCDOR Opens 2023 Individual Income Tax Season, Tageos to Open Manufacturing Facility in Henderson County; 92 New Jobs and $35 Million Investment Expected, Flat Rock Playhouses 2023 Season Marked by Regional Premier, New Black Box Series, Award-Winning Musicals, Employment Agencies, Consultants & Businesses. The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. And I think the community that is there now doesn't have that resolve. But the drug-dealing arrests in Buncombe thus far have not included Latinos. No, absolutely not.. 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. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. There certainly are people that are at higher risk, Manheimer said. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion. The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. 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. 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. Crime Map for Asheville, NC. Yep, sort of comical to watch the advertising/groveling for more and more guests continue while the city struggles to get its act in order. Asheville police spokesman Bill Davis said the department has had 16 robberies involving theft of a vehicle since the beginning of 2021. 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. However, our ads are for local businesses and are unobstrusive. Market data provided by Factset. I think I will need to see some evidence on this, or at least hear an argument made. WebProperty crime numbers Though anecdotally, story after story described spiking crime rates, with theft and burglary among the concerns voiced by business owners, Booth said When Justin Wilson, who served a decade as an APD community resource officer, resigned in August 2020 to begin a new career, he sent a letter to the community he served, apologizing to them and explaining that the job had "taken a toll on my personal life." One in five were strangers. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. But the violence, the mayor said, is fairly isolated in our community. ", ENTIRE NORTH CAROLINA POLICE DEPARTMENT RESIGNS AFTER NEW TOWN MANAGER IS HIRED, 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. APD Officers responded to 41 reports of break-ins But the question then is really whats the new normal going to be?. Youre not safe in your community. A dawn view of the skyline in Asheville, North Carolina, which has seen rising trends of violent crime in recent years. "Crime will continue to rise when there is no accountability for subjects of a crime," the officer said. He was identified as 42-year-old Joshua Kirk Spurgeon. 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. Simplicity allows you to search for any address within the city limits of Asheville. Email skestin@avlwatchdog.org. We're already in the top 10% of violent cities in America.". "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. We want everyone to have access to our stories. 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. Chad Nesbitt, the former chair of the Buncombe County GOP who now works as a local investigative journalist, attributed some of the city's problems to Antifa's presence in Asheville, which he described as "the hub of Antifa" in the region. "And the first people who quit coming to those meetings were the people within the community. Warning: Information you find on this page may be outdated or incorrect. Miller said he has not encountered an anti-law enforcement sentiment. Robberies are also up, 29%. And the most recent one (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. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. How did they try to intimidate you? 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. 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. In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced, violent crimedecreased. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Time for your type, the type to dehumanize and belittle anything white and male to be held accountable for your casual racism and sexism like the rest of us are. Cities across the country are hiring after losing officers in the past couple of years. But the question then is really whats the new normal going to be?. 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 officer claimed Williams' office often doesn't charge criminals at all or reduces felony charges to misdemeanors. 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.. Asheville Watchdog sent the police department a list of questions about the increases: How many are drug- or gang-related? Asheville and Western North Carolina news, investigative reporting, city and county government news. Community Crime Map provides basic information about the incidents, including the type of crime, location type, block-level address, date and time. 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. You can also search by neighborhood or along a street. 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. "Because we've lost so many officers, and we're operating at almost 42% down every single day, officer presence and officer visibility are not what they were.". 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. Asheville once touted as a top 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Crime soars in Democrat-run tourist town in North Carolina. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (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. In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced,violent crimedecreased. 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. No, absolutely not., The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. The suspects left with more than $10,000 in merchandise and attempted to destroy the alarm system while inside, police said. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. 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 ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) The Asheville Police Department arrested two people Thursday and is continuing to search for two more suspects. Asheville once touted as a top-10 tourist destination back in 2017, but with crime raging, the city now ranks, get this, in the top 10 percent of most violent cities in America, anchor Todd Piro said. Asheville once touted as a top POLICE IN NORTH CAROLINA TOURIST TOWN REVEAL WORSENING VIOLENT CRIME STATS FOLLOWING FOX NEWS REPORT Chuckie McKelvey, who 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. Democrat-run tourist town in North Carolina sees violent crime According to the police, four people broke into a business in the 100 block of South Tunnel Road early Thursday morning. 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. Black residents make up 11% of Ashevilles population but account for 31% of violent crime victims. Sally Kestin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter. You mean to tell me that Fox news manipulated statistics to fit the narrative of their agenda? Trends Analytics. Since the beginning of this year, violent crime is increasing, Davis said. 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. 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. "There's no stopping it unless you change what you're doing," Reece added. The officer predicted the situation in the Asheville area is headed "downhill quickly" without a change in leadership. 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. All rights reserved. For what purpose? Popular southern tourist city turning 'completely lawless' under 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.. It looks like you're using ad blocking technology. "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. Hair ran away from the scene, according to police. Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. I wear Foxs contempt for the town I was born in, raised in, and continue to live in, as a badge of honor! More people today are armed with weapons and guns, said Miller, an Asheville native. Fox News publishes article on Asheville's increase in violent crime Do the people involved have criminal histories for violence or drugs? Democrat-run tourist town sees 200% surge in break-ins amid Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford.