Operation Pill Crusher in Asheville, Buncombe County North Carolina 4/18/09 - 10am-2pm

On April 18, 2009 many people in Asheville North Carolina, Buncombe County and Western North Carolina will be coming together for Operation Pill Crusher. I was talking to a few people today about prescription pills, and how them make their way out of our medicine cabinets and go right into the school systems. Did you know that close to 70% of all drug related charges and arrests in the Buncombe County School System are prescription pills? That is wild people! Parents keep these pills in their medicine cabinets, in their kitchen closets and around the house somehow thinking that the kids will not wonder "what is it", "what does it do", and "what will it do to me". There have been many reports of "Skittles Bowls" at pill parties where everyone goes on a "pill search" in their home or the homes of their family or friends, gather as much medication as possible, go to the party, put it in one big bowl, and everyone at the party grabs 1, 2, 3 or more. Some never come back! I am scared for all of our children these days. Asheville; let us take a stand against things prescription drug abuse. Sometimes we do not take the time to pay attention until it hits our home. Well it is hitting our community, and your home may not be too far away. Please take a part in Operation Pill Crusher in Asheville and Bucombe County!

I read earlier that in one State, death by precription drugs passed deaths by car accidents. Many States report that the number of people abusing prescription drugs is more than people abusing alcohol. People, and even many addicts, sometimes consider it "Okay" to take a friends prescription drugs for pain or relaxation. Not only is this not safe or acceptable; it is very dangerous.

Asheville, this is our combined effort to make our community safer, cleaner, and maybe even save a few lives. Will you help??? You can even drop off cough syrup with Codine, and any other type of narcotic, pill, etc. Note: you are also permitted to also drop of any type of illegal street drugs for disposal and destruction. Bring the pills and drugs in bottles and bags for safe transport and destruction. The drugs will be crushed and then burnt, eliminating the potential abuse of them forever. They are not going to sit on some shelf, and then become "missing" soon thereafter. They are destroyed!Please keep in mind that many times using medication that is prescribed to others is dangerous due to the fact that they may have a reverse or adverse affect on another individual. Well over 100,000 Americans die every year from adverse reactions to prescription drugs. Besides being permanently damaged, drug side effects are a leading cause of death in the U.S. The worst thing that can happen to you when you take a "legal" drug is not that it won’t work, but that you might die. Be Safe!

The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, SBI, Asheville Police Department, Black Mountain Police Department, and Weaverville Police Department will be at the following Ingles Grocery Store locations on Saturday April 18, 2009 from 10 in the morning till 2 in the afternoon, to accept the voluntary disposal of old, unused and expired prescription medications:
Ingles Grocery Store on 29 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Ingles Grocery Store on 301 Long Shoals Road in Asheville
Ingles Grocery Store on 575 New Leicester Highway in Leicester
Ingles Grocery Store on 7 Leicester Highway (Patton Ave) in Asheville
Ingles Grocery Store on 915 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville
Ingles Grocery Store on 500 Highway 9 in Black Mountain
Ingles Grocery Store on 140 Weaver Blvd in Weaverville

For more information, please contact the Drug Enforcement Administration at 828-350-3440 or the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office at 828-255-5555

I have family that works for the FDA. Click Here to see one of their articles about the prescription drug problem.

Accident on Hendersonville Road 12-23-08

Tuesday 1:45pm - 2 vehicle accident in South Asheville delays traffic for an hour. Rice Towing of Asheville was called to remove the vehicles.

Asheville Police respond to small fender bender

The rain has been coming for the past week, and many accidents have been reported in Asheville. Here is a small accident that happened under I-240 where Merrimon Avenue and Broadway Avenue connect in downtown Asheville.

Asheville Police Department Blotter 12-08

APD seeks 2 in hotel robbery

ASHEVILLE – Asheville police have taken out warrants for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon on two men in connection with the robbery this week of a local hotel. The robbery occurred at about 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Holiday Inn Express, located at 234 Hendersonville Road. Two male subjects reportedly got out of a newer model Toyota Tundra and rushed through the front door. One suspect went behind the counter with his gun drawn and demanded money. No one was injured. Police are trying to locate Alfred Louis Logan, Jr., birth date 10/20/1979, of Asheville; and Joe Lindsey Taylor III, birth date 5/20/1989, also of Asheville. Both men are believed to be armed and should be considered dangerous. Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call the APD at (828) 252-1110 or CrimeStoppers at 255-5050.

Tunnel Road ABC store reports robbery

ASHEVILLE - Workers at the ABC store, located at 205 Tunnel Road, have reported to police that about 4:10 p.m. on Dec. 9, two people entered the business wearing all black clothing and with their faces covered. One of them displayed a handgun and demanded that the clerk open the cash drawer and hand over the money. The clerk complied and no one was injured. Both subjects left the store and were last seen on foot heading westbound. The clerk told police that the two suspects were females and that one female appeared to be white and around 5'6" tall, while the other was a light-skinned black female about 5'11" tall. Investigators cannot at this point say whether they are related to other recent robberies that also involved female suspects. Any such determination would be made pending further investigation. Case updates, as available, will be posted on this page or transmitted via press release.

APD investigates Montford assault

ASHEVILLE – On Dec. 9, Asheville police responded to 140 Montford Avenue for a report of a woman assaulted. The female victim reported that at approximately 12:55am, she had gone outside to retrieve an item from her vehicle. As she was walking back to her residence, the male suspect struck her in the face and cut her with a sharp object (possibly a knife) on the abdomen. After falling to the ground, the victim immediately got up and fled back into her residence. The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction and was not located. The victim was not seriously injured and did not require medical attention. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5’9” in height, medium to dark complexion, medium build, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. Anyone with information regarding this incident can call APD at 252-1110 or CrimeStoppers at 255-5050.

APD investigates armed robbery of GO Grocery

ASHEVILLE - On Dec. 4, Asheville police responded to an armed robbery at the GO Grocery Outlet at 1380 Tunnel Road. A white male entered the store at closing and demanded money while pointing a handgun at employees. The suspect fled the store on foot after taking an undetermined amount of cash from the night deposits. The suspect is described as a white male, 35-40 years of age, 6’1” – 6’3” in height, 200-225 lbs, with a brown and grey goatee. The suspect was dressed in a black leather coat, black pants, black boots, black gloves, black toboggan hat, and a clear mask. The suspect is described as having a New England or New York style speech dialect. A Buncombe County K-9 unit assisted APD with a suspect track from the store, but no suspect was located. No one was injured in the incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident can call APD at 252-1110 or CrimeStoppers at 255-5050.

Asheville Police Department, APD

Chief William Hogan - Asheville North Carolina Police Department

Mission: The City of Asheville Police Department is dedicated to providing public safety and maintaining order; enforcing the laws of North Carolina, upholding the United States Constitution and enhancing national security. The City of Asheville is committed to supporting a safe city with safe neighborhoods.

Guiding Principles: The Asheville Police Department will achieve its mission by committing to excellence through:

Integrity - Honesty, compassion, trust, and accountability. Police officers have the courage to do what is morally, ethically, and legally right regardless of risk.

Fairness - The Police Department will treat everyone impartially without favoritism or bias.

Respect - The Police Department will treat everyone with dignity and courtesy without prejudice.

Professionalism = The Police Department will deliver quality services through cooperation, open communication and a commitment to continuous improvement.

About the Department: The Asheville Police Department is made up of 241 sworn and non-sworn men and women. The department also utilizes the strengths, experiences and specialties of more than 150 volunteers. The Asheville Police Department is a nationally accredited police department through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Review the Asheville Police Department's 2006 Annual Report. * If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1. *

Contact Information: Asheville Police Department Chief William Hogan, Location: 100 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC, 28801. Mailing: P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802. Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Non-emergency: (828) 252-1110 Chief’s Office: (828) 259-5880 Chief's E-mail: whogan@ashevillenc.gov. For more info, please visit http://www.ashevillenc.gov/

Asheville Emergency, APD, AFD, and Buncombe EMS respond

When danger approached today on Merrimon Ave, the Asheville Police Department, the Asheville Fire Department, and Buncombe County EMS networked together to help. Their selfless job is to keep us safe, help us when we are in trouble, enforce order and law, and risk their lives to save us if necessary. So they definitely make the City of Asheville so much of a safer place. I know most of us are not equipped to respond to an emergency or spontaneous situation, but we have honorable servants everywhere with 1000's of hours of training, ready to come to the rescue. I see these people at work, and I think "that could just as easily be me or someone that I love" laying on the floor needing assistance. Do yourself some good during these times and reach out to your local fire department, police, and area rescue teams with some thankfulness. They are way underappreciated and could use some community interaction from the residents, maybe even dinner one evening, or some fresh baked cookies, lol. Maybe some of the businesses should offer a "Public Servant Discount" to these people who contribute daily to many of our lives. They live their lives to protect mine and yours. Thank you to all of the agencies around the world, especially right here in Asheville NC and Buncombe County (I live here).

Asheville Police Search Car & People on Cherry St

The SUV was out tonight and obviously rolled up on these people hanging out in the lower parking lot of the Food Lion Skate Park on Cherry Street in Downtown Asheville. Here you see the officer has 3 people sitting against the car, and is frisking the "biggest" one of the crew.

What is an Asheville school resource officer?

"The Asheville City Schools implemented a School Resource Officer program in 1991. This program consists of a police officer assigned to the high school and one to the middle school to act as positive role models for students. The School Resource Officer consists of three primary roles. They are first and foremost a police officer that enforces laws and investigates crimes that occur against the school, the students or staff. The School Resource Officer also teaches students and staff law-related educational programs on a wide variety of topics including preventing weapons at school, criminal law, constitutional law, alcohol abuse and many more. Finally, the School Resource Officer is a counselor and friend to whom students and staff can come for law-related assistance."

See the rest of the article on: http://www.usmayors.org/bestpractices/bp98/09_1998_Preventing_School_Violence18.htm