ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville police charged 16 people and seized narcotics, a handgun,and nearly $12,000 in cash during a multi-agency operation targeting illegal drug activity in West Asheville.
The weeks-long investigation culminated on Dec. 3-4, when detectives from the Asheville Police Department, working with the U.S. Marshals, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, executed the operation, officials said.
Police said the effort was prompted by numerous complaints from community members about illegal drug use in the area.
Seized items included:
- 54.41 grams of crack cocaine
- 195.54 grams of fentanyl
- 705.13 grams of water-cut fentanyl
- 3.3 grams of methamphetamine
- 12.72 grams of marijuana
- $11,850 in U.S. currency
- Taurus semi-automatic handgun
Arrests included:
- Monica Louise Baker, 38 – felony possession of fentanyl, felony maintaining a dwelling, simple possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of second-degree trespass, four counts of solicit alms
- Micah Dillon Breeden, 29 – felony probation violation (out of county), felony possession of Schedule II drug, probation violation, larceny
- Michael Renee Camacho, 50 – possession of drug paraphernalia
- Theodore Russell Finley, 45 – felony trafficking in fentanyl, possession with intent to sell fentanyl (2 counts), possession with intent to sell cocaine, felony maintaining a dwelling (2 counts), possession of drug paraphernalia
- Wyman Wy-Keem Franklin, 21 – felony trafficking in fentanyl, felony conspiracy, resist/delay/obstruct, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Shaun Lamont Golden, 48 – possession of drug paraphernalia
- Stacy Marie Plemmons, 50 – felony possession of fentanyl, two counts of identity theft, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Arsenio Anthony Sharp, 37 – felony possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Damion Kiere Smith Jr., 22 – felony conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Jacob Everett Sutphin, 32 – felony possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Danielle Maria Taylor, 20 – resist/delay/obstruct
- Davion Sylvester Taylor, 21 – felony maintaining a dwelling or vehicle, felony conspiracy, resist/delay/obstruct, possession of drug paraphernalia
- James Michael Tibbetts, 40 – felony trafficking in opium or fentanyl, felony possession with intent to sell fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Mark Wendell Wallace, 61 – possession of drug paraphernalia
- Michaela Jordan Woods, 32 – felony maintaining a dwelling, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Scottie Francis Vandermeer, 46 – felony maintaining a dwelling, possession of drug paraphernalia
The operation involved every division and specialty unit within the Asheville Police Department, making it one of the largest law enforcement actions in the city this year, officials said.
Residents with information about illegal gun or drug activity are encouraged to contact APD at (828) 252-1110, submit an anonymous tip via the TIP2APD smartphone app, or text TIP2APD to 847411.
