Weeks after Asheville Police officers were caught on camera slashing water bottles and destroying medic supplies at a Black Live Matter protest last summer, the department signed a contract for $60,000 with a California public relations company, ColePro Media, according to documents obtained through public records requests.
The company s owner, Laura Cole, said the company acts as “transparency engagement advisors,” but, according to reporting in the Modesto Bee, stated on its now-deleted Facebook page:
“It is time to take back the control from the Mainstream Media and get the real stories out there using social media. We also offer a ‘street smart’ class to outsmart reporters.”
Asheville Police hired PR firm in wake of medic tent destruction, public documents show Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven, Asheville Citizen Times
Asheville Police destroy water bottles, medic area
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Weeks after Asheville Police officers were caught on camera slashing water bottles and destroying medic supplies at a Black Lives Matter protest last summer, the department signed a contract for $60,000 with a California public relations company, ColePro Media, according to documents obtained through public records requests.
The company s owner, Laura Cole, said the company acts as “transparency engagement advisors,” but, according to reporting in the Modesto Bee, stated on its now-deleted Facebook page:
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A group of protesters from last year’s racial justice marches is still waiting on a response from Asheville Police regarding a complaint alleging use of excessive force.
The complaint filed by 20 individuals 19 of them anonymous alleges that Asheville police officers used unethical, even military-style tactics to disperse crowds during last year’s protests.
“They were hit in the face by a projectile, really did some damage to a person’s face, that’s the most significant one, Attorney Ben Scales said. He filed the complaint on behalf of the alleged victims and is collaborating with the Racial Justice Coalition. He says they’re requesting body camera footage from the police.
Updated: 5:10 PM EDT Apr 18, 2021 A person who was shot inside their car on a busy Asheville highway Thursday has died, according to police.Asheville Police Department said it happened around 2:45 p.m. Thursday on Smokey Park Highway.(Video Above: 4 shootings, 1 deadly, 2 involving road rage happened in 24 hours in Asheville) Police said Sunday that Nathaniel Leon Crosby, 31, of Weaverville, died of his injuries.A person of interest has been identified and located with the assistance of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, according to police.The highway was briefly shut down at the time of the shooting.Police say this is the second homicide in Asheville in 2021.
Asheville Police said a man in critical condition after a shooting near the River Arts District around 9:50 a.m. April 15 has died, becoming the city s first homicide victim of 2021.
At 3:19 p.m., Christina Hallingse, public information officer with APD, released a statement that the victim died. APD will release the name of the victim pending notification of the family..
After a shooting on Southern Street this morning, a male whose name has not been released, was transported to Mission Hospital with serious life-threatening injuries, according to Hallingse.
This incident is under investigation.
Asheville has seen a spike in gun crimes this year, as reported by the Citizen Times. Six people have been shot in Asheville this year, according to Hallingse.