Asheville Fire Department asks for help solving arson of Xpress newspaper boxes

On Wednesday Oct. 17, someone set fire to the newspapers inside several Mountain Xpress distribution boxes in downtown Asheville. Here’s the press release from the Asheville Fire Department about the investigation. Xpress has requested a copy of the image from the surveillance video.

From the AFD

press release

The Asheville Fire Department, along with the Asheville-Buncombe Arson Task Force, is asking citizens to please call them with any information regarding a series of fires on October 17, 2012. There were six separate fires set that morning between 6:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. involving newspaper boxes. These boxes were located on Coxe Ave. near the post office, two boxes in the 81 block of Patton Ave., one near Wells Fargo Bank, one at the intersection of Haywood St. and Battery Park and one off Wall St. near the Laughing Seed Restaurant. Video footage shows a male subject in which we need your help in identifying. Anyone remembering suspicious activity around the mentioned locations the morning of October 17th can call the Asheville-Buncombe Arson Task Force at 828-255-5321 or Crime Stoppers at 828-255-5050 with information.

SHARE
About Margaret Williams
Editor Margaret Williams first wrote for Xpress in 1994. An Alabama native, she has lived in Western North Carolina since 1987 and completed her Masters of Liberal Arts & Sciences from UNC-Asheville in 2016. Follow me @mvwilliams

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. 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. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.