From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Asheville Police Department arrested 35-year-old Nicholas Jones Crowder on July 24, accusing him of breaking into Chemist Spirits on Short Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville eight separate times between June and July to steal bottles of alcohol. 

Following are the background details of the break-ins:

• Officers first responded to a break-in call at the South Slope district business on July 21.

• Surveillance video review revealed the same suspect had already targeted the business seven prior times after closing hours.

• The repeated thefts involved bottles of liquor taken from inside the facility. 

Following are details on the arrest and charges:

• On July 24, police received a tip that the suspect was at a neighboring property.Crowder attempted to flee on foot and physically resisted officers — and reportedly caused a minor injury to one police employee before being captured.

• He was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility on a $50,000 secured bond.

• He was charged with eight felony counts of breaking and entering, eight felony counts of larceny after breaking and entering, and one felony count of assault on a government official inflicting injury.

Asheville television station News 13’s “Comment Bubble” appearing after its story included the following assertions:

 • Trump312...Harris226 — “Perhaps we can have a ‘community gathering’ and release some ‘balloons’ as a way to promote a safer, and more tourist-friendly, Asheville. MAGA.” 

• ILUCICE — “Don’t forget the T-shirts.”

• jbbost -— “According to the ‘both sides’ people, Democrats who want healthcare are just as bad as people who say stuff like this.”  

• 80sasheville — “Get a job and pay for it like the rest of us.”

• jbbost — “You’re more concerned about that than racist dogwhistles because that’s how Fox News wants you programmed,”

• ILUVICE — “Amen.” 

• AintRight — Yet, by the grace of God go you.”

• MikeAsheville — “You could be real MAGA and be a fake Christian with just empty ‘thoughts and prayers...’”

• ILUVICE — “Or he could just be telling the truth — and you don’t like what he is saying. Sounds like a personal problem to me.”

• AintRight — “Hey Brother ILUVICE ‘Carry each others’ burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ Galatians 6:2.”

“Sounds like maybe you need to study up on the word of God to me.”

• Michaelstandsup — “They’re fluent in the Trump bible...”

• AintRight — “Cutting funds to help those with addiction. Making everything they touch worse. MAGA.”

Correcto — “I would be willing to participate, just after the Vance Monument is restored and rededicated!!! Until that time, I would not recommend that even a Democrat tourist waste ANY time or money in trASHEVILLE.!!”

• Michaelstandsup — “F maga and Vance.”

• ILUVICE — “Man, it keeps getting better. As long as all of this stays in Asheville, the rest of WNC will be just fine. You people love this behavior. It’s the definition of a DEI mentality.”