While Asheville Police Department Chief William Anderson made “largely a bad PR move” in allowing the APD to investigate a crash involving his son, City Councilman Cecil Bothwell in late March cautioned citizens not to jump to conclusions about the chief.

Anderson has been embroiled in controversy since his son, Chad Anderson, 22, was involved in a single-car wreck March 9 in a vehicle registered to the chief.

The police chief later apologized for failing to call the N.C. Highway Patrol to investigate a wreck in which his son told police he was the passenger and the driver had fled the scene on foot.

(A story on the case appears on Page 2 of this edition of the Daily Planet.)

Bothwell also is head of the city’s Public Safety Committee, which considers police and fire issues before they go to council, and makes recommendations. The PSC does not have investigative authority in the case of the car wreck.

Nonetheless, Bothwell said he supports the police chief, noting, “People can’t be blamed for what their kids do.

On a separate matter, Bothwell said, “I was pleased to learn that, given more time to consider the legalities, Asheville City Attorney Bob Oast confirmed that I was correct in my interpretation of the City Code. Carrying of guns in the Feb. 23 rally was a violation of both city and North Carolina law.” Oast said all future organizers will be correctly informed about the law, Bothwell told the Daily Planet.