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. Dixon was charged with felony possession of stolen property. Ashevilles 5-year violent crime rate cited by Fox News, a 31 percent increase from 2016 to 2020, becomes a 15 percent increase from 2017 to 2021. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. 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. Information provided is the type of crime, the date the crime occurred, block-level address and the incident number. Asheville Watchdogsent the police department a list of questions about the increases: How many are drug- or gang-related? The jail population did decline, especially during the worst of Covid, as some non-violent inmates awaiting trial were released. The officer also cited an overall lack of leadership and the "liberal agenda" of some county commissioners and members of city council. 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. (Fox News Digital). 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. Legal Statement. Aggravated assaults are up 44 percent over the same period last year, and domestic-related aggravated assaults are up 64 percent, Davis said. Cities across the country are hiring after losing officers in the past couple of years. 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. Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. He also said that "officers are very, very frustrated" with low bail. We hope youll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. Both suspects were booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. 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. Theres no doubt that the social justice protests of 2020 and Covid have certainly strained all the police departments, Herrmann said. I wear Foxs contempt for the town I was born in, raised in, and continue to live in, as a badge of honor! The information can be downloaded into a .csv file. But the question then is really whats the new normal going to be?. DEMOCRAT-RUN TOURIST TOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA SEES VIOLENT CRIME SPIKE AS POLICE DWINDLE: PERFECT STORM, A dawn view of the skyline in Asheville, North Carolina, which has seen rising trends of violent crime in recent years. @ 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. We understand, the web can be a dangerous place! Like other cities struggling with crime such as Los Angeles and New York City, Asheville has lost more than 100 officers since May 2020. 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. Youre not safe in your community. Asheville violent crime twice U.S. average, up 31%; but Crime soars in Democrat-run tourist town in North Carolina. Sheriff Miller said, Fentanyl is killing our folks locally, as it is across North Carolina and the U.S. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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 How did they bully you? 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. Seems like everyone holding their breath for the Asheville-Buncombe Public Safety Strategy is a weird and scary interregnum. Email [emailprotected]. Market data provided by Factset. No, absolutely not., The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. Officers also seized more than $10,000 in cash, a brick press, a vacuum sealer and a blender. "I think what you're seeing in Asheville right now is a culmination of the last several years of pulling police back and not letting them do their jobs like they're able to do," former Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan told Fox News Digital in a phone interview. Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? Crime Map for Asheville, NC. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And the most recent one Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Wait. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All rights reserved. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. We're already in the top 10% of violent cities in America.". The way Mayor Manheimer talks about Asheville safety world in the above AW story is not that in touch with where many are actually living. 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. 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 Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. It looks like you're using ad blocking technology. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. View All 29 Photos . It will be quite (humorous/tragic/surprising/expected?) 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. "Our staff is working around the clock to follow up on instances of reports that have been taken.". Leaders need to be honest about what happening and address it. Written by Sally Kestin, Asheville Watchdog. 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. "The Asheville Police Department takes this very, very seriously," Capt. 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. WebAsheville, North Carolina Crime Rate & Safety. All rights reserved. CRIME SOARS IN DEM-RUN TOURIST TOWN, said the chyron. Have any assaults been random, aimed at residents or tourists? 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. Among many other features, SimpliCity provides crime statistics for the address. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. ASHEVILLE - A lieutenant with the Biltmore Forest Police Department turned himself in after he was charged with a child sex crime in South Violent crime murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault went downin Asheville in 2021. From Asheville Watchdog: Fox News reports Asheville is crime The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. the mere fact that this is being presented nationally is disturbing and humilating. Asheville news #24 in Best Places to Retire. 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. WebAlleged downtown Asheville bomb thrower has new court date Buncombe County Commissioners talk affordable housing, cryptocurrency Did Punxsutawney Phil lie? Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. There were plenty of Republican-mayor cities with crime also going up, he said. Why and how is Tucker doing this and where do these extra people come from? All rights reserved. According to the police, four people broke into a business in the 100 block of South Tunnel Road early Thursday morning. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. I am scared of nobody but THIS is what is making Asheville a more dangerous place to live. 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. 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. Skyline of downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Do tell. 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. ", 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. Whether, Fox News got it wrong or right, really should not matter if everything is in excellent order here at home! 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. It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. Community Crime Map provides basic information about the incidents, including the type of crime, location type, block-level address, date and time. Asheville Watchdog: Fox News Misstates Stats, Claiming "Asheville 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.. The robberies occurred in public and private places, including one-quarter in a street or alley, 16 percent in a residence, 15 percent in a parking lot or garage, and 10 percent in a convenience store. WHY do they have NO ability to run a safe city ? 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 Miller said he has not encountered an anti-law enforcement sentiment. WebASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) A man in Asheville is facing numerous charges after being accused of trafficking drugs. It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. The Buncombe county commissioners have stood with me 100 percent, he said, supporting pay raises and new equipment. 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. He also said Antifa and activists were active in Asheville and described the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 as riots.. The Community Crime Map is available on the Asheville Police Departments website by clicking on the crime mapping icon or atcommunitycrimemap.com. (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. Story tips can be sent to jon.brown@fox.com. Crime Map. Is the violence centered in or near public housing? "And to do that, you have to have community resolve. The Asheville Policecrime dashboardshows crimes against people down 10% in the past year and crimes against property down 20%. 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. 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. The one positive trend in the report is a reduction in gun crime. Unfortunately, I did not see the Tucker FOX News interview. Crime is a serious issue and one that I hear about as a top concern for our community, said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. Asheville Police Department releases online crime statistics Crime perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. Crime Those numbers include a broad range of offenses. Box 7148 Asheville, NC 28802 828-251-1122 Of the reported robberies in 2020, 26 percent of the victims were strangers. In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced,violent crimedecreased. #46 in Best Places to Live. 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 Asheville Police Department (APD) says officers His letter was published on the front page of the local newspaper. Hair ran away from the scene, according to police. Evil exists in Asheville, officers are surrounded by it, and they do their best with what they have. (Fox News Digital). Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. 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. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. Asheville will not be a vacation destination. Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive. But I would have to think they would be more of the kind of smaller, petty types of things, not violent crime.. Crime information is available dating back to calendar year 2012. I did see some peanuts being assaulted downtown the other day. 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. But the drug-dealing arrests in Buncombe thus far have not included Latinos. One in five were strangers. "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.". What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. 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. Youre not safe in your community. Police in North Carolina tourist town reveal worsening violent Asheville pregnancy center reacts to Jane's Revenge's threat of militant behavior. 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. CRIME SOARS IN DEM-RUN TOURIST TOWN, said the chyron. 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. Sixty percent of voters overall consider crime a major issue in the lead-up to the midterm elections 52% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans, according to an August poll from Pew Research. I think they're more of an enabling community, and I don't see it getting any better.". It refers to a period ending in 2020, when crime had increased nationwide. It only takes a moment. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. 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. Arrest 02/28/2023 11:00 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON 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. "Officers overlook so many things because they know that it will go nowhere in court." "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. 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. Democrat-run tourist town sees 200% surge in break-ins amid 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. Change your mind about what? Theres no doubt that the social justice protests of 2020 and Covid have certainly strained all the police departments, Herrmann said. 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. What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. ? While NYC has seen its share of issues, he will not be returning to AVL. Dixon has a $5,000 bond and Furrs bond is $15,500. They really didn't get to speak, and they really didn't get anything done.". 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. There certainly are people that are at higher risk, Manheimer said. Aggravated assaults are up 44% over the same period last year, and domestic-related aggravated assaults are up 64%, Davis 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. Duncans successor, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, toldAsheville Watchdog, Weve seen some violent crime numbers go up, but like Asheville Police, the Sheriffs Office saw a decline in violent crimes in 2021. ", 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. "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. 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. Asheville, North Carolina. The City of Asheville 70 Court Plaza P.O. You can take five-year snapshots, ten-year snapshots, one-year, year-over-year.. 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 in Asheville - Asheville, NC Crime Map | SpotCrime Fox News: Asheville Is Crime-Ridden, Dangerous I truly hope that Asheville, NC being a very small tourist city, really does have a safety first attitude! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Asheville, a city of approximately 90,000 people nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Buncombe County, North Carolina, has seen a 31% surge in violent crime per 100,000 people from 2016 to 2020, according to statistics released in the spring. 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. In a Facebook post, officers said that would be enough fentanyl for 625,000 lethal doses. Violent crime has surged 34% since last year in Democrat-run Asheville, North Carolina, according to statistics released by city police following a Fox News Digital Violent crime murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault went down in Asheville in 2021. Crime Map. Each year, aggravated assaults made up the majority of Ashevilles violent crimes, accounting for about two-thirds to nearly three-quarters. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. Nearly three-quarters were 29 or younger, and all but three were males. When police departments add or lose officers, theres not a direct correlation in crime, Herrmann said. There were plenty of Republican-mayor cities with crime also going up, he said. Basic information about the incidents, such as the type of crime, location type, block-level address, and date and time, is also available. Neither the Asheville City Council nor the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment. ", Zack also noted that fewer people even want to become police officers anymore, leading to what he described as "a hamster wheel of losing people and trying to replace them at the same time. The 31 percent increase is not current. Thats a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. Of 17 murders in Asheville in 2019 and 2020, 14 of the perpetrators and 12 of the victims were Black. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "There's no stopping it unless you change what you're doing," Reece added. 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. when the house of cards comes crashing down. 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. 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..