District Attorney Ron Moore released a 2011 audit of the Asheville Police Department Evidence Room June 19, revealing more details about missing drugs, guns and money that caused a major scandal. In 2012, several media outlets, including Mountain Xpress, filed an unsuccessful joint lawsuit to press Moore and the city of Asheville to release the […]
Tag: evidence room
Showing 1-21 of 38 results
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Buncombe District Attorney’s race heats up
The race for Buncombe County District Attorney is heating up, with incumbent Ron Moore touting his accomplishments to a local business group (and taking to Twitter), while challenger Todd Williams accumulating endorsements from some local politicians and judges. Photo by Alicia Funderburk
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Evidenceroommain-480x721.jpg)
Former APD evidence room manager pleads guilty to embezzling drugs
Former Asheville Police Department evidence room manager William Lee Smith has pleaded guilty to a federal charge for embezzling $10-30,000 in drugs from the evidence room, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/AndersonEvidenceroom0214-480x321.jpg)
APD: evidence room situation improving; “we know what happened”
The situation of the Asheville Police Department evidence room has improved, with a new manager and better systems, Chief William Anderson told media today. He also says he’s better informed about what led to missing evidence, and who was responsible, but refused again to reveal further details. Photo by Max Cooper.
Judge rejected evidence room lawsuit against DA on technicality
Part of Judge Bradley Letts’ written order dismissing the evidence room open records lawsuit filed by a local media coalition (including Xpress) has been filed. The order dismisses the part of the lawsuit against the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office on the technical grounds that it was misnamed in the lawsuit.
Judge dismisses APD evidence room open records lawsuit
Today, Sept. 6, Xpress and the other media outlets involved an an open-records lawsuit against the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office and the city of Asheville received word that Judge Bradley Letts had dismissed their push for the release of an audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room.
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Attorneys lay out arguments in evidence room audit lawsuit
Attorneys for an alliance of local media (including Xpress), the city of Asheville and Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore laid out arguments before Judge Bradley Letts this morning over whether or not an audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room should be released. Letts will likely issue a ruling within the next 30 days. Photo by Max Cooper.
District attorney, evidence room auditor file affidavits in open records case
Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore and Mike Wright, who audited the Asheville Police Department’s old evidence room, have filed affidavits in response to the open records lawsuit from local media (including Xpress), seeking the release of the audit.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/EvidenceroomSNAFU-480x717.jpg)
Affidavit filed as evidence room lawsuit nears its day in court
Lawyers representing a coalition of local media (including Xpress) have filed an affidavit to bolster the case for the release of an audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room. The lawsuit goes before a judge Sept. 4.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BellamyEvidenceRoom-480x321.jpg)
Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy talks about evidence room issues
In this interview with Xpress Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy talks about the state of the Asheville Police Department evidence room situation, oversight issues, and if the city will be able to hire the number of staff recommended to keep the same problems from re-emerging. Photo by Max Cooper.
City Attorney’s request for APD audit recommendations
In this July 26 letter, City Attorney Bob Oast requests that Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore release part of the undisclosed Asheville Police Department evidence room audit containing recommendations for improving the facility’s practices.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/EvidenceroomSNAFU1-480x717.jpg)
Asheville evidence room public records lawsuit goes to court Sept. 4
The lawsuit filed by five local media outlets, including Xpress, to obtain the Asheville Police Department evidence room audit will go before Judge Bradley B. Letts on Sept. 4.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Evidenceroommain-480x721.jpg)
A look inside the APD evidence room in 2009
In March 2009, the Asheville Police Department gave a tour of the evidence room as part of the Citizens’ Police Academy program. Xpress has obtained photographs from one of those citizens, providing a glimpse inside what would later become ground zero of a major scandal.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/EvidenceroomSNAFU2-480x717.jpg)
More information emerges about APD evidence room situation
More information has emerged about the oversight of the APD evidence room and what might be required to solve its current disarray. Also: Mayor Terry Bellamy has not replied to questions about when she became aware of a contract clause mandating that the city receive a redacted copy of the evidence room audit.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BalladoftheAPDevidenceroom-480x269.png)
The Ballad of the APD evidence room
Local musicians Jr. James and the Late Guitar have produced a song about the Asheville Police Department evidence room mess.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/EvidenceroomSNAFU-480x717.jpg)
Unanswered questions about APD evidence room mess
After a report earlier this week revealed an Asheville Police Department evidence room in deep disarray, it still remains unclear how it got that way, and how it escaped the notice of department officials.
Auditor reveals APD evidence room a mess, mayor calls situation “appalling”
Tonight, July 24, Asheville City Council heard the first public report on the Asheville Police Department evidence room, revealing a state of deep disarray. Mayor Terry Bellamy called the situation “appalling,” and the auditors estimated it will take at least two years to sort out.
Asheville City Council preview: evidence room, water, skateboards and more
It promises to be a busy meeting for Asheville City Council tonight, as it receives the first public report focusing on the evidence room audit. But that’s not all: allowing skateboarding downtown and state legislation on the possible take-over of the city’s water system are also before Council.
Council will hear first public presentation on evidence room audit July 24
A Blueline Systems representative will give City Council a July 24 presentation on the Asheville Police Department evidence room audit the company completed earlier this year. The content of the presentation, requested by Mayor Terry Bellamy, is unknown.
The evidence room audit lawsuit
The full legal complaint from a coalition of local media calling for the release of the audit of guns, drugs and money missing from the Asheville Police Department evidence room.
Local media sue DA, city of Asheville over evidence room records
Xpress and four other local media outlets are suing District Attorney Ron Moore and the city of Asheville, seeking to make public the audit of guns, drugs, and money missing from the Asheville Police Department evidence room.