ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Area authorities have been busy the last few days with some robberies and a report of a gun at school.
Here are some of the highlights, according to social media posts and news releases.
MACON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
An East Franklin Elementary School employee was charged after taking a gun onto school property.
According to the sheriff’s office, someone reported to the school resource officer on Thursday, Dec. 12, that a Macon County Schools employee had a firearm.
The school resource officer investigated the report, and the employee was charged with one felony count of having a weapon on campus or other educational property.
“After a thorough investigation, it is our belief that there was no threat to the school or any persons at any point,” the Macon County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.
ASHEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Asheville Police Department on Wednesday released photos of a person believed to have been involved in an attempted armed robbery last weekend. Authorities hope the public can help identify the suspect.
The robbery happened about 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at a convenience store on the 600 block of Smokey Park Highway.
The suspect was wearing a black jacket, black gloves and a motorcycle helmet with a visor when he entered the store, Asheville police said in a news release. After initially attempting to buy ice, the suspect threatened an employee with a handgun and ordered them to lock the front door. Instead, the employee ran out the door and into the parking lot, where there were occupied vehicles. The suspect, described as a Black man, standing about 6 feet tall and having a medium build, fled the scene and was last seen heading westbound on Smokey Park Highway on a black motorcycle.
After further investigation and a review of surveillance video, detectives released two photos of the suspect. If you have any information about the incident or the identity of the suspect, please contact APD at 828-252-1110. You can also send an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.
HENDERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in a breaking and entering case after receiving numerous tips from the community.
“We recently reached out to you, our online detectives and asked for this thief to be identified … if you recall this genius took his own picture with a stolen cellular trail camera that he took while breaking into a house,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post announcing the arrest Wednesday.
Mark Ervin Crook was charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and entering.