Suspect in three stabbings
sought by Asheville police

Asheville police are looking for a Candler man in connection with the stabbings of three men in downtown Asheville early last Sunday.

James Ira Milling III

James Ira Milling III, 31, of Candler is wanted for attempted first-degree murder, according to warrants obtained by police.

A call about a fight on North Market Street was received about 2:20 a.m. by the Asheville Police Department. Reportedly, three men had been assaulted by someone with a knife.

When APD officers arrived, they found two people on the ground with severe lacerations and puncture wounds. Shortly thereafter, they located a third victim with a laceration to his neck.

One of the injured men was treated and released at Mission Hospitals, while the other two still are being treated.

Witnesses told police that the suspect was last seen traveling in a gray 1988 Ford pickup truck in the vicinity of Smoky Park Highway.

The APD is cautioning the public not to approach the suspect if he is spotted, but instead to immediately call the unit at 252-1110 or CrimeStoppers at 253-5050.

Man charged with taking
indecent liberties with child

Deputies recently charged a Swannanoa man with a sex crime involving a child, according to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.

Rusty Lane Harwood, 47, of Asheville Road is charged with taking indecent liberties with a child.
The victim was younger than age 16, according to the arrest warrant. Harwood’s bond was set at $10,0000.

Breaking, entering charges
filed against local woman

An Asheville woman was arrested the last week in February on charges that she broke into another woman’s house, stole a check and wrote it to herself for $2,000.

Tammy Martin Smith, 45, of Caribou Road, was charged with breaking and entering, larceny, forgery of instrument and uttering forged instruments. She was held under a $5,000 bond.

Other arrests that week included:

• Curtis Lee Gilchrist, 38, on a charge of  forgery of instrument and uttering a forged instrument.
He was accused of forging a $60 check. His bond was set at $2,000.

• Kenneth Joshua James, 19, of 458 Onteora Blvd., charged with taking indecent liberties with a child.
James was held on $5,000 bond.

• Ernest Guy Black, 78, of School Road, charged with disseminating obscenity on allegations he showed pornographic Web sites and movies to a child under 13.

He was released under a written promise to appear in court and ordered to have no contact with the child.
• Anthony James Holcombe, 41, of 808 Tulip St., Morristown, Tenn., charged with fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving while license was revoked and assault on an officer with a deadly weapon.

Holcombe dragged an Asheville Police officer with his vehicle last August, according to his arrest warrant. He was being held in lieu of $8,000 bond.

• Antoinne Jermaine Hawkins, 28, of 1 Granada St., on two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ecstasy with intent to sell or deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and several counts of failure to appear in court on drug charges and probation violations. He was being held without bond.

• James Michael Stokes, 42, of Poplar Acres Drive in Candler, charged with misdemeanor larceny and financial card theft.

He was accused of stealing a cell phone and a set of truck keys. His bond was set at $1,000.

• Matthew Duane Mitchell, 39, of Coleman Avenue, charged with eight counts of simple worthless check and one count of worthless check. He was held on a $500 bond.

• Larry Shane Peeler, 38, of 38 Hidden Lake Drive, Candler, charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
He was held on $2,000 bond.

Sheriff Duncan announces
advisory board members

Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan has announced the five members of the Sheriff’s Office Personnel Advisory Board.

The members are: K. Ray Bailey, Willie Mae Brown, Joan Creasman, Don Linn and William Mance Jr.