90-year-old woman robbed
inside her Waynesville home

WAYNESVILLE ó Police are searching for a thief who robbed a 90-year-old woman of her savings June 16 while posing as a workman.

Waynesville police say the woman was working in her garden when a car stopped and a man got out, saying he was doing some work in the neighborhood.

The man allegedly told her that after he was done, she would get a discount on her power bill, and persuaded her to let him in the house.

There, he began taking measurements and asked her if she had a Social Security number. She replied that she did, but did not know where it was.

The man then showed her a $100 bill and asked if she had any change. She said she would see and proceeded to open a drawyer containing money she had been saving to replace her carpets.

The man grabbed the envelopes and ran away, according to police.

The suspect is a heavy-set white male in his mid-40s, officials say. His vehicle, which was driven by another man, is a year 2000 or newer, dark blue four-door car.

Anyone with information regarding the case may call Det. Tyler Trantham at 356-1175, ext. 2116.

Alleged fugitive from Ark.
arrested in Weaverville

Blake Edward Bratton, 21, was arrested in Weaverville this past weekend on fleeing a charge of possessing cocaine in Arkansas County, Ark. He was being held on a $10,000 bond.

Other local arrests this past weekend include the following:

ï Antoinne Jermaine Hawkins, 27, of Bingham Road on charges of possessing with intent to manufacture, sell and deal cocaine and 16 tablets of ecstasy, possessing drug paraphernalia and less than one-half ounce of marijuana, resisting public officers and assaulting and striking officers. Hawkins, who was arrested by Asheville police, is being held in lieu of an $11,500 bond.

ï Derrick Lamar Pearson, 19, of Murdock Avenue on charges of possessing with intent of manufacture, sell and deal cocaine, eluding arrest in a motor vehicle, breaking and entering, reckless driving, driving without a license and trespassing. Pearson, who was arrested by Asheville police, is being held on a $10,000 bond.

ï William Newton Smith, 47, of Candler on charges of stealing a steel milk tank, bass boat and wood splitter and attempting to sell the stolen milk tank. Smith, who was arrested by Buncombe sheriffís deputies, is being held on a $10,000 bond.

UNCA police charge driver
with running light, no license

UNC Asheville campus police charged Santos Alexis Murillo Flores, 26, with driving without a license and failure to yield at a red light, following an accident on June 19.

Police say Flores was driving his 1995 Hyundai when he collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Broadway Street and Campus Drive.

A witness said that Flores failed to stop for the red light, causing it to hit the second vehicle, which was turning left onto Campus Drive, according to police reports.

After discovering that Flores did not have a valid driverís license, Officer Robbie Craig charged him with driving without a license.

In other action, UNCA campus police:
ï Closed two cases after exhausting all leads. Both cases took place June 1.

In the first incident, damage to property was reported at the greenway at W.T. Weaver Boulevard about 6:30 a.m.

In the second incident, property was stolen from a motor vehicle in the schoolís Parking Lot 3 about 3:20 p.m.

ï Reported a vandalism at Parking Lot A about 11 a.m. June 8. The incident is currently under investigation.†

ADP Junior Police Academy
for teens set to start in July

The Asheville Police Departmentís free Junior Police Academy will be offered to teens ages 13-17 from July 23-27.

Classes will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The program is designed to teach teenagers more about the departmentís operations. Teens who participate will gain an appreciation for the problems and challenges that law enforcement officials face and also have an opportunity to learn more about career opportunities with our department.†

Topics covered during the academy include:
ï Recruitment and hiring †††
ï Department structure (with a tour)
ï Constitutional and criminal law
ï Ethics and leadership
ï Community policing
ï Patrol techniques (K-9, bike, etc.)
ï Criminal investigations†††
ï Fingerprinting and digital evidence
ï Use of force and firearms†††
ï DWI detection
ï Patrol techniques

Applicants will be accepted on a first- come, first-served basis. For more information or to obtain an application, call the Crime Prevention Office at 259-5834.†

Asheville officer completes
crime prevention program

Officer Allen Dunlap of the Asheville Police Department recently passed the International Crime Prevention Specialist exam given at the N.C. Crime Prevention Association training conference.

The test consisted of 150 general knowledge questions and 50 specialized questions in the area of proactive law enforcement.

Richard P. Cannady, executive director of the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, commended Dunlap ìfor his efforts in professionalism and continuous pursuit of knowledge.î

Dunlap is also the departmentís coordinator of the Citizens Police Academy, in which residents spend several weeks learning about the daily operations of the police department and making personal connections with department staff.

ì(My job) gives me a chance to meet so many fantastic people, and helping them learn to prevent crime really makes me feel very good,î he said.

Dunlap has served in the department since 1991.