"The Asheville Police Department takes this very, very seriously," Capt. 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. I love Asheville and everything it offers but am sad to see the decline. Asheville, North Carolina. Hes not alone. Cities across the country are hiring after losing officers in the past couple of years. 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 Since the beginning of this year, violent crime is increasing, Davis said. 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. Legal Statement. An Asheville Police Department vehicle parked in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. @ 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. How did they try to intimidate you? HOMICIDES DOWN BUT VIOLENT CRIME UP IN MAJOR US CITIES AS MIDTERMS APPROACH. But the raging crime, carjackings and Mexican drug cartel activity described by Fox News? But are we ready for the day when Tucker Carlson and Ron DeSantis send busloads of extra people to Asheville? Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. 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. Crime Map for Asheville, NC. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Skyline of downtown Asheville, North Carolina. (Fox News Digital). 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. All rights reserved. CRIME SOARS IN DEM-RUN TOURIST TOWN, said the chyron. The only violent crime that has seen reductions is rape, down 28%, he said. One in five were strangers. It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting TIP2APD to 847411. We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he said. Trends Analytics. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "There's no stopping it unless you change what you're doing," Reece added. Thats tough to believe.. Firestorm Bookstore Co-op in West Asheville, which has faced allegations of being a front for extremist Antifa activity. 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. Market data provided by Factset. The tool is called theCommunity Crime Map and is the result of a partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Are armed gang members or drug dealers coming into Asheville from Charlotte, Atlanta or other cities? The Buncombe county commissioners have stood with me 100 percent, he said, supporting pay raises and new equipment. It won't be a retirement destination. 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. Simplicity allows you to search for any address within the city limits of Asheville. Do tell. "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.". Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive. Sheriff Miller said, Fentanyl is killing our folks locally, as it is across North Carolina and the U.S. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The City of Asheville 70 Court Plaza P.O. It will be quite (humorous/tragic/surprising/expected?) Nearly 60 percent of Ashevilles aggravated assault victims in 2020 were relatives or acquaintances of their attacker. Thats a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall. 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. Get out! Crime news: Asheville homicide suspect was just out of prison before murder charge; transferred back. Youre not safe in your own home. The only violent crime that has seen reductions is rape, down 28 percent, he said. 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. Those numbers include a broad range of offenses. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Hairr or Spurgeon is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. Asheville police spokesman Bill Davis said the department has had 16 robberies involving theft of a vehicle since the beginning of 2021. Asheville and Western North Carolina news, investigative reporting, city and county government news. Written by Sally Kestin, Asheville Watchdog. An Asheville Police Department vehicle parked in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. I sent them the IMF death toll numbers from NC DHHS yesterday. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ", "After 10 years at APD, I can say confidently that APD officers are good people with good hearts," he wrote. I do agree the politics seem liberal, but I dont live here for the politics. But as far as Asheville being safe, I think its safe.. 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 Change your mind about what? One in five were strangers. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The Fox News report blamed Ashevilles left-leaning politicians for the citys purported violent crime problem. Story tips can be sent to jon.brown@fox.com. Asheville is largely a tourist driven economy and the city invests significant resources to promote it, which will be squandered if nothing is done. Email [emailprotected]. Last updated or reviewed on October 24, 2022. Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. 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. Crime information is available dating back to calendar year 2012. It is a continuation of this theme of, You should worry. 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. This is an ugly, racist, sexist comment, and its also BS. https://mountainx.com/news/buncombe-shapes-plan-to-tackle-opioid-crisis/. Violent crime murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault went downin Asheville in 2021. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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 Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. In a Facebook post, officers said that would be enough fentanyl for 625,000 lethal doses. 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 are the demographics of the offenders and victims, and are the weapons being used mostly guns? WOMAN ROBBED AT KNIFEPOINT IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE The first armed robbery happened Saturday, Aug. 20, on the 300th block of South French Broad Avenue, where a woman was held at knifepoint. What Ive learned over the years is you can apparently slice and dice crime data however youd like, Manheimer said. Asheville Watchdogsent the police department a list of questions about the increases: How many are drug- or gang-related? "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. What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. But the question then is really whats the new normal going to be?. Is the violence centered in or near public housing? "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. 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. Both suspects were booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. 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. Whether, Fox News got it wrong or right, really should not matter if everything is in excellent order here at home! (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. or redistributed. ", 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. WebAlleged downtown Asheville bomb thrower has new court date Buncombe County Commissioners talk affordable housing, cryptocurrency Did Punxsutawney Phil lie? 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. Both the Asheville Police Department (APD) and the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office have been hemorrhaging officers in recent years, with many retiring early or simply quitting. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. He also said Antifa and activists were active in Asheville and described the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 as riots.. The officer claimed Williams' office often doesn't charge criminals at all or reduces felony charges to misdemeanors. Asheville Watchdogdug into the citys crime statistics and found violent crime in Asheville disproportionately affects Black residents, especially young Black residents. Look at how the Buncombe commissioners talk about the main driver of crime; being Illegally Manufactured Fentanyl. "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 jail population did decline, especially during the worst of Covid, as some non-violent inmates awaiting trial were released. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I think they're more of an enabling community, and I don't see it getting any better.". The Omni Grove Park Inn, built in 1913, is a historic resort hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, that has hosted several presidents. the mere fact that this is being presented nationally is disturbing and humilating. Change my mind. When police departments add or lose officers, theres not a direct correlation in crime, Herrmann said. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The Buncombe county commissioners have stood with me 100%, he said, supporting pay raises and new equipment. But the question then is really whats the new normal going to be?. (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. 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.. Crime information can be viewed on a map or in a data grid. 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. 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. 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. Leaders need to be honest about what happening and address it. Duncan said in the segment that crime started to climb as those leftist politicians set an agenda that included reducing the jail population. Trends Analytics. Theres no doubt that the social justice protests of 2020 and Covid have certainly strained all the police departments, Herrmann said. Asheville police body camera video shows two online journalists being arrested during the homeless camp encampment sweep and a simultaneous protest in December 2021. 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 The suspects left with more than $10,000 in merchandise and attempted to destroy the alarm system while inside, police said. The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. Among many other features, SimpliCity provides crime statistics for the address. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. 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 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. For as little as $5 a month the cost of a craft beer or kombucha you can help keep local journalism strong. But I would have to think they would be more of the kind of smaller, petty types of things, not violent crime.. 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. Tucker Carlson is sending us busloads of extra people? Arrest 02/28/2023 11:00 PM 100 BLOCK OF DAVIDSON A dawn view of the skyline in Asheville, North Carolina, which has seen rising trends of violent crime in recent years. He recounted that county police recently made the biggest fentanyl bust in Buncombe County history until APD made a bigger bust weeks later. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. Is downtown safe? 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.". Post Announcements News Overall Score 6.4 /10. The Justice Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics samples U.S. households about crime victimization each year. Of the reported robberies in 2020, 26 percent of the victims were strangers. Crime perceptions are also shaped by more homeless people in and around downtown. The Asheville Police crime dashboard shows crimes against people down 10 percent in the past year and crimes against property down 20 percent. We havent really seen as you would call it the cartel, he 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. Crime Map for Asheville, NC. Please remember that.". Its primarily attributable to the rise in aggravated assaults.. 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. This is a beautiful area and I hope that everyone will find a way to stop harming each other and visitors. 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. It refers to a period ending in 2020, when crime had increased nationwide. 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. People who live in Asheville generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. You mean to tell me that Fox news manipulated statistics to fit the narrative of their agenda? Have any assaults been random, aimed at residents or tourists? (Kristin Ramsey/EyeEm). Violent crime murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault went down in Asheville in 2021. Youre not safe in your own home. or redistributed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. "Evil is real. The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce a new free tool to help the public stay informed about crime in Asheville. WebASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) A man in Asheville is facing numerous charges after being accused of trafficking drugs. According to the police, four people broke into a business in the 100 block of South Tunnel Road early Thursday morning. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. Carjacking is not a criminal charge in North Carolina. Crime soars in Democrat-run tourist town in North Carolina. Evil exists in Asheville, officers are surrounded by it, and they do their best with what they have. 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. Crime is a serious issue and one that I hear about as a top concern for our community, said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. 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. They see people who are mentally unwell walking down the center of the street, talking to themselves, and they are fearful, Manheimer said. Zack also said fentanyl in the region has gotten "out of control," and that the amount they have been taking off the street is "alarming." What they show is over half of serious crime doesnt even get reported to the police, Herrmann said. "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. Asheville will not be a vacation destination. Is downtown safe? We hope youll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. I dont know if thats true or not, the mayor said. His letter was published on the front page of the local newspaper.