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.
Tag: Asheville Police Department
Showing 316-336 of 391 results
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 […]
Bear sighting at AB-Tech, Asheville High, lockdown lifted after animals leave
The Asheville Police Department and AB-Tech security are monitoring a bear sighting on the campuses of Asheville High School and AB-Tech. A lockdown of the school has ended, as the bears appear to have left the area. N.C. Wildlife Management has been notified.
APD seeks police impersonator
The Asheville Police Department has released a composite sketch of a man who allegedly impersonated a police officer in a May 8 incident on Long Shoals Road.
Documents shed new light on APD sexual harassment settlement
As part of the $52,100 settlement of sexual harassment lawsuit by former Asheville Police Department officer Cherie Byrd against the city of Asheville and her former superior Eric Lauffer, the city received back all of the documents it provided to Byrd, according to records obtained by Xpress. The documents also reveal other details about the settlement.
Following complaints, APD moves sniper training to Volvo plant, firing range
After complaints about a sniper training exercise held Monday, May 16, in Pack Square Park, the Asheville Police Department will move remaining training to the APD firing range or the “secluded and empty” former Volvo plant.
APD arrests suspected gunman in Country Inn robbery
The Asheville Police Departments arrested Jack Meredith Martin, 71, of Arden, this morning as the suspected gunman in the May 6 Country Inn robbery.
Photo from Asheville Police Department
Capt. Wade Wood named interim APD chief
Asheville Police Department Capt. Wade Wood will take over as interim police chief May 12, the city of Asheville announced today. Wood will replace Chief Bill Hogan, who announced his retirement last month amid controversy about the handling of the evidence room and the settlement of a sexual harassment suit against the department.
Photo from the city of Asheville
The police have had free reign for long enough
It seems, once again, that the spotlight has fallen on one of North Carolina's law enforcement agencies, and once again the system is wrought with corruption. This time the Asheville Police Department evidence room has been caught unable to produce the 400 oxycodone pills supposedly seized in a prior arrest. Police Chief [Bill] Hogan has […]
Amid controversy, APD Chief Bill Hogan announces retirement
On April 18, Asheville Police Department Chief Bill Hogan has announced his retirement, effective May 13. The step comes amid public criticism over his handling of an investigation into missing evidence and the settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit involving a still-employed APD officer.
Police officer in center of sexual harassment case still employed by APD
Asheville Police Department Officer Eric Lauffer, whose explicit text messages to his then-subordinate, Officer Cherie Byrd, were at the center of a sexual harassment lawsuit that the city settled this week for $52,100, is still employed by the department.
Photo by Jonathan Welch
DA blasts APD evidence room handling, Council approves $175,000 audit
It was a tense scene last night during the Asheville City Council meeting as District Attorney Ron Moore criticized the leadership of the Asheville Police Department for the handling of its evidence room. APD Chief Bill Hogan, meanwhile, said the problems were due to one individual who “betrayed the trust.” Council approved $175,000 to conduct a full audit.
City settles APD sexual harassment lawsuit
The city of Asheville will settle a lawsuit from former Asheville Police Department Officer Cherie Byrd alleging that her superior, then-Sgt. Eric Lauffer, sent her sexually explicit text messages and phone calls. The city will pay Byrd $48,000 and reimburse her $4,100 in mediation fees.
115 items missing from APD evidence room
A partial audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room, completed last Friday and released by the District Attorney’s Office, reveals 115 missing items, including guns, drugs and money. The State Bureau of Investigation has sealed the evidence room, and are pursuing an investigation and full audit.
DA delays trials as APD evidence room investigation continues
District Attorney Ron Moore will hold in abeyance APD felony cases while the State Bureau of Investigation looks into missing evidence in the APD property room. Meanwhile, Chief Bill Hogan asserts that the APD was following proper procedure in an earlier evidence audit, and calls the problems “regrettable.”