“Officers of the Woodfin Police Department arrived first on scene and discovered a subject unconscious inside of a vehicle.  Officers were able to wake the subject and determined that medical personnel were not needed. During the interaction, officers noticed evidence of a criminal violation inside the vehicle. The occupant, later identified as Jonathan Barker, was asked to exit the vehicle. He refused to do so and a physical altercation began inside the vehicle. Mr. Barker was eventually taken into custody by officers of the Woodfin Police Department.

“As with every use of force, this incident is being reviewed by the Woodfin Police Department to ensure it conforms with the standards established in policy and by law. While this incident does not meet the criteria established in the Memorandum of Understanding for investigation of uses of excessive force signed by the Woodfin Police Department, it has been voluntarily forwarded to the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office for review.”