Buncombe County North Carolina, Asheville Police Blotter

Man pleads guilty to sexual battery
ASHEVILLE - A Fletcher man on Jan. 22 pleaded guilty in District Court to two counts of Sexual Battery related to incidents in which he groped women at local WalMart stores.

Christopher Michael Sims, birth date 12/28/1975, of Fletcher, assaulted a woman at the WalMart Supercenter in east Asheville on May 20, 2008. On the same date, about an hour later, he assaulted another woman at the same store. Sims was also charged with Sexual Battery in Henderson County, where he assaulted a woman inside the Hendersonville WalMart on Sept. 10, 2008. Media reports of that incident, as well as victims’ testimony, assisted detectives in identifying Sims as the suspect in the Asheville incidents.

Asheville Police Det. Ricardo Martinez worked with Hendersonville Police and Fletcher Police on the cases.
Sims had been in jail for 58 days and was given time served. As part of his sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender.



Man arrested on drug charges
ASHEVILLE - The Drug Suppression Unit on Jan. 21 did a knock-and-talk at 37-E Pisgah View Apartments, which resulted in the following arrest and charges:

Alphonso Lee Speaks Logan, birth date 3/17/1976, for Trafficking in Cocaine; Possession of Cocaine; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and Possession of Firearm by Felon. Officers seized 56.8 grams of crack cocaine, $1,800 dollars in U.S. currency, and a .40- caliber Glock. Bond was set at $40,000.


Woman reports burglary at apartment
ASHEVILLE - Asheville Police responded to an apartment on Cherry Street at about 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 to investigate a reported first-degree burglary. The victim stated that three black males barged into her apartment through the unlocked door.

She told police that at least one of the suspects physically assaulted her. The victim said she was left alone a few times during the incident, during which time she text-messaged a friend to call police. The suspects left the scene, taking one digital camera. The victim was transported to Mission Hospitals to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.


Police investigate child's death
ASHEVILLE - Asheville police are investigating the apparent accidental death of a 21-month-old child at a residence in the South/Central District on Jan. 18. The child and a 2-year-old sibling were reportedly alone in a bedroom of the house when the death occurred. Per standard procedure, the Department of Social Services is also investigating.