Asheville Police Blotter 12-20-08

Student charged with making bomb threat

ASHEVILLE - On Dec. 15 at about 2:45 p.m., a false bomb threat was called into Asheville High School. This incident caused a distruption that resulted in a brief evacuation of the school. APD Master Police Officer Mike Godwin, of the School Resource Officer Unit, has charged one juvenile male in the incident. The investigation is continuing and may result in further charges. Asheville City Schools and the APD collaborated fully on this matter, for which both entities have a zero-tolerance policy.

6 charged in prostitution sting

ASHEVILLE - Vice officers in the APD's Drug Suppression Unit conducted a Street Level Prostitution Operation on Dec. 18, in which six people were charged with soliciting undercover officers for prostitution. The operation was conducted in the areas of South French Broad Avenue, Haywood Road and Coxe Avenue.  Charges are still pending on two other people for prostitution and drug related charges. DSU conducts these operations periodically and at random times in an effort to suppress and deter prostitution activity. Those arrested in Thursday's operation were: Ronald Worley, of Asheville: Solicit for Crimes Against Nature Kevin Eugene Smith, of Alexander: Solicit for Crimes Against Nature Stacie Ramsey, of Asheville: Solicit for Prostitution Kashif Grant, of Swannanoa: Solicit for Crimes Against Nature Boyce Layton, Jr., of Asheville:  Solicit for Crimes Against Nature Mary Myrick, of Asheville: Solicit for Crimes Against Nature Teri Gentry, of Asheville, was served during the operation with a warrant for Second-Degree Trespass.

APD charges man with multiple B&Es

ASHEVILLE – APD Detectives this morning arrested Jamaal Antwan Connelly, birth date 5/25/1981, of Charlotte, on five felony Breaking and Entering charges and one charge of Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle. Mr. Connelly is charged in multiple incidents of breaking into businesses and vehicles to steal property and credit cards that he used to obtain gift cards and merchandise. He has a history of such incidents and he is currently wanted in South Carolina. Criminal Investigations Division Detectives have information linking Mr. Connelly to other incidents in Asheville and in Winston-Salem, and additional charges are pending. He is in the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $60,000 secured bond related to the following cases: • Dec. 15, 2008: UNC Asheville. A victim reported that someone stole her wallet from her office in the Justice Center. The wallet contained a credit card belonging to the women's basketball team. The suspect tried to use the card to buy American Express gift cards at a local CVS.• Dec. 13, 2008: 79 Woodfin Place. The exterior door to the business office suite at this location was open and an interior door had been kicked in, causing damage to the door and doorframe. The suspect stole cash and a tool bag from the business.• Dec. 10, 2008: 64 Peachtree Road. The suspect broke a window, entered, and stole a pressure washer and construction tools. The suspect stole a vehicle that was parked in the basement and was still in possession of the vehicle at the time of his arrest. • Dec. 9, 2008: 64 Peachtree Road. The suspect entered a business, possibly with the use of a key card, and once inside pried open desk drawers, stole keys from two wall-mounted key boxes, as well as a small amount of cash.• Dec. 5, 2008: 84 Peachtree Road. The subject broke into a business by unknown means, kicked in an office door and stole cash and credit and debit cards from the office.

Man pleads guilty in July 4th homicide

ASHEVILLE – The man Asheville police arrested this year in the July 4th homicide of another man has today pleaded guilty in Superior Court. Steven Gordon Shultz, birth date 6/16/1960, pleaded guilty to the Second-Degree Murder and Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon of Fredrick Garfield McLeod, birth date 8/21/1975. Shultz received a 12-year minimum sentence. The stabbing happened in the parking lot outside the Beaucatcher Cinemas at 321 New Haw Creek Lane. Mr. McLeod was stabbed multiple times while seated in his vehicle and later died at the hospital. During the course of the investigation, APD detectives discovered that Mr. McLeod was a crack cocaine dealer and that the stabbing took place during a drug sale to Mr. Shultz. At least 17 APD detectives, detective supervisors, and forensic services technicians worked that entire holiday weekend, interviewing more than a dozen people and expending more than 465 man-hours to bring the case to a successful conclusion.