Asheville Police Department Interim Chief Wade Wood has released a statement saying that his department takes Facebook comments made by Lynn Fraser, a forensic technician employed by the APD, “very seriously.” Fraser called Occupy Asheville protesters “dirtasses” and said they needed “a hug … around the neck… with a rope.” Melissa Williams, the city’s public information and social media specialist, who commented on Fraser’s status, has offered her apologies.
Tag: Asheville Police Department
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APD employee calls Occupy Asheville protesters “dirtasses” on Facebook ***UPDATED 2:17 p.m.***
In a Facebook post, Lynn Fraser a forensic technician with the Asheville Police Department, called Occupy Asheville protesters “dirtasses” after they complained about police officers recording a march yesterday. In comments on the post, Melissa Williams, the city’s public information and social media specialist, responds with “LMAO” or “Laughing My Ass Off.” In previous post, Fraser also designated Occupiers as a group that “just need a hug … around the neck… with a rope.”
APD arrests four Occupy Asheville participants ***UPDATED 11 a.m. SUNDAY***
The Asheville Police Department has arrested four Occupy Asheville participants today, Nov. 5, for alleged actions on Nov. 2. The charges are resisting public officers, impeding traffic, unlawful assembly and, in the case of one protester, wearing a mask in public. In a statement, Occupy Asheville claims condemns the arrests and claims one of those charged was home sick on the day in question.
Occupy Asheville protesters talk about Pack Square Park arrests
After Asheville City Council refused Occupy Asheville’s request for indefinite camping in a public park on Oct. 25, eight protesters remained in Pack Square Park after curfew and were arrested. Four of those demonstrators tell Xpress about what they did, and why they did it.
Occupy Asheville protesters pick up litter, wipe windows at Merrill-Lynch building, 4 arrested
Four Occupy Asheville demonstrators, part of a “corporate clean-up crew” were arrested for trespassing this afternoon after picking up litter and wiping windows at the Merrill-Lynch building in downtown.
APD: No major issues with Occupy Asheville so far
An Asheville Police Department spokesperson tells Xpress that the department has had no troubles or conflicts with Occupy Asheville demonstrators so far, and has made no arrests.
APD looking for Tunnel Road bank robbery suspect
The Asheville Police Department is looking for a suspect involved in the robbery of a First Citizens Bank on Tunnel Road earlier this afternoon.
City of Asheville seeks community input on hiring new APD Chief
The city of Asheville will hold a series of community input sessions Sept. 8 and 9, seeking input on the hiring of a new chief for the Asheville Police Department. The office is filled by interim Chief Wade Wood, since Chief Bill Hogan retied in May, amidst controversy about missing evidence and the settlement of a harassment lawsuit involving a (still-employed) APD officer.
APD looking for missing person
The Asheville Police Department is looking for Destiny Lynn Reifschneider, last seen in South Asheville Thursday, Aug. 25.
APD releases details of SWAT team standoff
Yesterday, a short video made the rounds of an Asheville Police Department SWAT team firing into an apartment and advancing. Now the APD has released details of the standoff with Erich Shakir, who police claim barricaded himself inside a North Asheville apartment filled with “a large arsenal of knives, compound bows, dart guns, and battle axes” after fleeing a domestic violence charge. According to the APD’s statement, Shakir was subdued using non-lethal methods, including tear gas and a bean-bag round.
APD releases details of four West Asheville home invasions, looking for suspects
July 28: The Asheville Police Department released details late last night, including suspect descriptions, for six recent home invasions, four of them in the West Asheville area, some of which may be related. Public speculation and concerns about home invasions in the area have increased in recent days.
APD announces second arrest in hate crime assault
The Asheville Police Department has announced a second arrest in the July 14 assault on Luke Hankins. A group of people surrounded Hankins, shouting homophobic slurs before one, later identified by police as Lamon Hopkins, punched him in the face. The APD has arrested Hopkins, and today announced the arrest of a juvenile on assault charges.
BREAKING: APD apprehends suspect in hate crime assault
The Asheville Police Department has arrested Lamon Lewis Hopkins, 25, and charged him in the July 14 assault on Luke Hankins. The APD has qualified the attack as a hate crime, with a group of people shouted homophobic slurs at Hankins before Hopkins punched him in the face hard enough to cause three fractures.
APD looking for suspects in hate crime assault
Early July 14, a group of teenagers, shouting homophobic slurs, surrounded Luke Hankins in the parking lot of the Patton Avenue Ingles; one hit him hard enough to cause three fractures. The Asheville Police Department is looking for the suspects. While the APD has reported the attack as a hate crime, attacks based on sexual orientation aren’t covered under North Carolina’s hate crimes law, so no additional penalties are possible.
APD investigates allegations of excessive force in local musician’s arrest
Local musician Juan Holladay says handing out a flier ended up getting him choked, restrained and arrested by Asheville Police Department officers. The APD claims he was belligerently interfering with an investigation. The APD’s internal affairs division is looking into the allegations.
APD Investigates gunshot incident in River District ***UPDATED 4:25 p.m.***
The Asheville Police Department continues to investigate the report of a shooting earlier today in the River District. Now the APD is reporting that, while a gun was involved, no shots were fired, and the victim was instead injured in a fall.
Quit complaining: Law enforcement works perfectly
There has been plenty of discussion recently in the Mountain Xpress about the Asheville Police Department's recent changes, allegations of corruption and mismanagement. The truth is that local police forces recruit and maintain exactly whom the system will tolerate. By system, I mean the two-class system that runs the Western world. Sit through a couple […]
Asheville federal building evacuated due to bomb hoax, suspect arrested ***UPDATED***
The federal building in downtown Asheville was evacuated around noon today, June 21, due to a suspicious package with a “cryptic note” directed at federal law enforcement agencies. Asheville Police Department officers disrupted the package with high-powered water and a blank round. The APD has arrested Ernest McDonald, 66, in connection to the hoax.
Lt. Wally Welch talks to press outside the federal building. Photo by Jonathan Welch
City seeks consultant to help with police chief recruitment
The city of Asheville has put out a request for proposal seeking a consultant to help with the selection of the next chief of the Asheville Police Department. According to the proposal, the final police chief candidate will be chosen by January 2012. The expected cost of the consultant is not specified.
APD is a mixed bag
Respectfully, to Chris Burgher and the citizens of Asheville: The Asheville Police Department is a mixed bag [“The Police are Here to Help,” May 25 Xpress]. You never really know what you will get as a result of calling on them or them calling on you. Congratulations, Mr. Burgher, for having such a satisfying experience […]
APD is helpful — sometimes
I'm writing in response to Chris Burgher’s recent letter to the editor [“The Police Are Here to Help,” March 25 Xpress]. I will certainly give credit and gratitude to whomever it is due. I have had positive encounters with the police and thanked them for their sincere effort to help — but neither my positive […]