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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We share your inclination to get the whole story. "Our staff is working around the clock to follow up on instances of reports that have been taken.". Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. 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. Is the violence centered in or near public housing? Hes not alone. Police took Dixon and Furr were taken into custody. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. Dixon was charged with felony possession of stolen property. Officers also seized more than $10,000 in cash, a brick press, a vacuum sealer and a blender. Story tips can be sent to jon.brown@fox.com. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. More people today are armed with weapons and guns, said Miller, an Asheville native. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Hairr or Spurgeon is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. What Ive learned over the years is you can apparently slice and dice crime data however youd like, Manheimer said. Crime is a serious issue and one that I hear about as a top concern for our community, said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. Trends Analytics. Evil exists in Asheville, officers are surrounded by it, and they do their best with what they have. I did see some peanuts being assaulted downtown the other day. 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. "Or Asheville will soon become a non-entity. Duncan said inthe segmentthat crime started to climb as those leftist politicians set an agenda that included reducing the jail population. Each year, aggravated assaults made up the majority of Ashevilles violent crimes, accounting for about two-thirds to nearly three-quarters. when the house of cards comes crashing down. ", 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. All rights reserved. Robberies are also up, 29 percent. 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. In 2021, while Ashevilles police force was drastically reduced, violent crimedecreased. 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. Violent crime murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault went down in Asheville in 2021. When police departments add or lose officers, theres not a direct correlation in crime, Herrmann said. Get out! 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. Crime Map for Asheville, NC. 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. Support for law enforcement is a key issue among voters both in North Carolina and throughout the U.S. as crime surges in cities nationwide. 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. 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. Activists also dropped off a coffin filled with dirt and animal manure in front of APD headquarters at the time. Simplicity allows you to search for any address within the city limits of Asheville. But I would have to think they would be more of the kind of smaller, petty types of things, not violent crime.. Thats tough to believe.. "And to do that, you have to have community resolve. Asheville once touted as a top Nearly 60% of Ashevilles aggravated assault victims in 2020 were relatives or acquaintances of their attacker. Market data provided by Factset. 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. There were plenty of Republican-mayor cities with crime also going up, he said. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. "Evil is real. It refers to a period ending in 2020, when crime had increased nationwide. How did they try to intimidate you? 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. The Asheville Police crime dashboard shows crimes against people down 10 percent in the past year and crimes against property down 20 percent. Duncan, who retired as sheriff in 2018, ran the department for 12 years, replacing Bobby Lee Medford. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Basic information about the incidents, such as the type of crime, location type, block-level address, and date and time, is also available. Both suspects were booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. Crime perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. No, absolutely not.. I think they're more of an enabling community, and I don't see it getting any better.". According to the police, four people broke into a business in the 100 block of South Tunnel Road early Thursday morning. Youre not safe in your community. They really didn't get to speak, and they really didn't get anything done.". I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. Legal Statement. It only takes a moment. But are we ready for the day when Tucker Carlson and Ron DeSantis send busloads of extra people to Asheville? Do the people involved have criminal histories for violence or drugs? Do tell. But the sheriff said, We didnt see an increase as far as crimes being committed., An online version of 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.. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. 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. Were pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. The Asheville Police Department (APD) says officers 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. But the drug-dealing arrests in Buncombe thus far have not included Latinos. Since the beginning of this year, violent crime is increasing, Davis 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." ASHEVILLE - A lieutenant with the Biltmore Forest Police Department turned himself in after he was charged with a child sex crime in South The officer claimed Williams' office often doesn't charge criminals at all or reduces felony charges to misdemeanors. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. Post Announcements News The Community Crime Map is available on the Asheville Police Departments website by clicking on the crime mapping icon or atcommunitycrimemap.com. And the most recent one-year look, from 2020 to 2021, shows a 6 percent decrease. 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 The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Asheville police body camera video shows two online journalists being arrested during the homeless camp encampment sweep and a simultaneous protest in December 2021. Crime information can be viewed on a map or in a data grid. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. The jail population did decline, especially during the worst of Covid, as some non-violent inmates awaiting trial were released. What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. 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. 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 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.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The officer also cited an overall lack of leadership and the "liberal agenda" of some county commissioners and members of city council. Asheville Watchdogsent the police department a list of questions about the increases: How many are drug- or gang-related? We're already in the top 10% of violent cities in America.". For as little as $5 a month the cost of a craft beer or kombucha you can help keep local journalism strong. Herrmann reviewed Ashevilles crime statistics for Asheville Watchdog. Is downtown safe? It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. Market data provided by Factset. The Asheville Policecrime dashboardshows crimes against people down 10% in the past year and crimes against property down 20%. 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. However, our ads are for local businesses and are unobstrusive. 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. They see people who are mentally unwell walking down the center of the street, talking to themselves, and they are fearful, Manheimer said. Can you bring your vape pen or e-cigarette on a plane? "Officers overlook so many things because they know that it will go nowhere in court." ", Asheville drew national attention this summer when Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, a local faith-based crisis pregnancy center, was among several similar pro-life establishments nationwide that were vandalized in June by the radical, Antifa-affiliated pro-abortion group "Jane's Revenge.". According to the police department, evidence showed that another suspect was involved in the robbery. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Market data provided by Factset. Nearly three-quarters were 29 or younger, and all but three were males. 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. The Omni Grove Park Inn, built in 1913, is a historic resort hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, that has hosted several presidents. 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.. 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. "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. The tool is called theCommunity Crime Map and is the result of a partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. It will be quite (humorous/tragic/surprising/expected?) Fox News last week told a national audience that Asheville has seen a 31% increase in violent crime in the last five years. You can choose from several pre-selected date ranges and define the radius of your search parameter from an eighth of a mile to a mile. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) The Asheville Police Department arrested two people Thursday and is continuing to search for two more suspects. Information provided is the type of crime, the date the crime occurred, block-level address and the incident number. 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. Theres no doubt that the social justice protests of 2020 and Covid have certainly strained all the police departments, Herrmann said. WebASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) A man in Asheville is facing numerous charges after being accused of trafficking drugs. WebAsheville, North Carolina Crime Rate & Safety. There certainly are people that are at higher risk, Manheimer said. The crime information can be viewed on a map or a data grid. Of 17 murders in Asheville in 2019 and 2020, 14 of the perpetrators and 12 of the victims were Black. 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 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. The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. 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. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting TIP2APD to 847411. Nearly three-quarters were 29 or younger, and all but three were males. We understand, the web can be a dangerous place! 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 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. Youre not safe in your own home. "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. ", 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! Legal Statement. 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. Are armed gang members or drug dealers coming into Asheville from Charlotte, Atlanta or other cities? 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% of most violent cities in America,anchor Todd Piro said. Legal Statement. Legal Statement. An officer currently with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office who spoke to Fox News Digital on condition of anonymity attributed the exodus of officers to policy changes that hamstring them. "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 perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. Asheville police spokesman Bill Davis said the department has had 16 robberies involving theft of a vehicle since the beginning of 2021. Is our community unsafe as the picture is painted by Fox News? Asheville is largely a tourist driven economy and the city invests significant resources to promote it, which will be squandered if nothing is done. Trends Analytics. 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. The officer predicted the situation in the Asheville area is headed "downhill quickly" without a change in leadership. Crime soars in Democrat-run tourist town in North Carolina. CRIME SOARS IN DEM-RUN TOURIST TOWN, said the chyron. Asheville pregnancy center reacts to Jane's Revenge's threat of militant behavior. He was identified as 42-year-old Joshua Kirk Spurgeon. (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. Violent crime murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault went downin Asheville in 2021. 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. Seems like everyone holding their breath for the Asheville-Buncombe Public Safety Strategy is a weird and scary interregnum. https://mountainx.com/news/buncombe-shapes-plan-to-tackle-opioid-crisis/. We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he said. There were plenty of Republican-mayor cities with crime also going up, he said. The bookstore did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. While canvassing the area, officers located three shell casings along with damaged property. I truly hope that Asheville, NC being a very small tourist city, really does have a safety first attitude! I love Asheville and everything it offers but am sad to see the decline. "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. The 31% increase is not current. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. What are the demographics of the offenders and victims, and are the weapons being used mostly guns? Please remember that.". 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. But the violence, the mayor said, is fairly isolated in our community. Like other cities struggling with crime such as Los Angeles and New York City, Asheville has lost more than 100 officers since May 2020. 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. 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. See here for our terms of service. 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.". The jail population did decline, especially during the worst of Covid, as some non-violent inmates awaiting trial were released. Since the beginning of 2022, Asheville has seen an uptick in aggravated assaults, defined as attacking someone with the intent of causing severe injury. Email skestin@avlwatchdog.org. Is our community unsafe as the picture is painted by Fox News? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Asheville Watchdogdug into the citys crime statistics and found violent crime in Asheville disproportionately affects Black residents, especially young Black residents. "You're going to have to literally go back to some old 1990s-style law enforcement, and people have to be put in jail who commit crimes," he said. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Dixon has a $5,000 bond and Furrs bond is $15,500. 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. A dozen men in big, smelly trucks are making Asheville a more dangerous place? 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. And the most recent one Community Crime Map provides basic information about the incidents, including the type of crime, location type, block-level address, date and time. Manheimer said some people suspect crimes in Asheville are going unreported because of the police departments decision, beginning in June 2021, to no longer respond in-person to calls about theft, fraud and other non-serious crimes due to staffing shortages. 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 An Asheville Police Department vehicle parked in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. 0:57. 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. 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. Asheville once touted as a top Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (Fox News Digital). 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. He also said Antifa and activists were active in Asheville and described the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 as riots.. We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he said. 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.. His letter was published on the front page of the local newspaper. Robberies are also up, 29%. Asheville Watchdog sent the police department a list of questions about the increases: How many are drug- or gang-related? It refers to a period ending in 2020, when crime had increased nationwide. What are you even attempting to say? ? While NYC has seen its share of issues, he will not be returning to AVL. 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. And why did the tourists who overdosed on felonious drugs at the Grove Park last February not get charged? (Kristin Ramsey/EyeEm). We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Thats a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. And the most recent one-year look, from 2020 to 2021, shows a 6% decrease. Crime Map. The citys crime It looks like you're using ad blocking technology. 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. WHY do they have NO ability to run a safe city ? Fox News last week told a national audience that Asheville has seen a 31 percent increase in violent crime in the last five years. The one positive trend in the report is a reduction in gun crime. Former Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan, who left the Democrat Party, joined 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss how crime spiraled out of control in Asheville as the city grapples with police shortages. But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. Post Announcements News Police Asheville crime Asheville crime map Asheville Police crime map. The protests that roiled Asheville that summer were especially tense, with APD officers decked out in riot gear engaging in an hours-long standoff with protesters on a bridge leading into the city. And the reference to Asheville being among the most violent cities came from an analysis, also based on 2020 data, that combined all violent crimes a potentially misleading way to view the statistics, said Christopher Herrmann, an assistant professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. I do agree the politics seem liberal, but I dont live here for the politics. WebA man was injured during a shooting early Saturday morning at an apartment in Asheville. 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. But I would have to think they would be more of the kind of smaller, petty types of things, not violent crime.. 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. ", 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. Miller said he has not encountered an anti-law enforcement sentiment. This is an ugly, racist, sexist comment, and its also BS.

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