From Staff Reports

EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is a May 25 posting on the Asheville Police Departments Facebook page, headlined “Asheville Police release body-worn camera of arrest.”

“In the interest of transparency, the City of Asheville, through the Asheville Police Department, is releasing body-worn camera video showing the arrest of Devon Whitmire, 27, on May 13, 2023. The City of Asheville asked a judge to allow the release of the footage on May 19. The petition was granted on May 22.

“The video allows the public to see the events surrounding the arrest. The public can also hear the words spoken by Whitmire as he was approached by officers.

“Whitmire was being sought by APD after his family members reported he made violent threats. We are releasing a portion of an audio recording of the family member who called authorities to report the threat from Whitmire just days before his arrest. 

“This arrest was Whitmire’s 25th in Buncombe County since 2012. Previous charges include Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Assault on a Female, Assault by Pointing a Gun, Assault on a Government Official, Assault on Emergency Personnel, Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury, and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.

“The officers who located him on May 13th knew about Whitmire’s violent past. When officer’s asked him to identify himself, he gave false information. He also claimed to be armed, which proved to be untrue.

“The Asheville Police Department reviewed the arrest of Whitmire, as is the standard operating procedure following every case where there is a response to resistance. It was determined that the officers’ actions during this arrest were reasonable and necessary.  

“The incident was then referred to the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, which later confirmed the findings of APD’s internal review and cited no probable cause of excessive use of force by officers. 

“The video fully detailing the arrest can be viewed below or on the City of Asheville YouTube Channel, along with raw body-worn camera footage.”