🌱 APD Officers Assaulted During Arrest + Accused Kidnapper Makes Bail

Hi all. I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new edition of the Asheville Patch newsletter. Let's get this Wednesday started off right with a quick guide to the most important things going on these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Pleasant with some sun. High: 76 Low: 56.
• Thursday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 73 Low: 51.

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Here are the top three stories in Asheville today:

1. During an attempted arrest of Devon Rayshawn Whitmire on Livingston Street, Asheville police officers were assaulted, resulting in one officer being hospitalized and later released. The incident took place after officers tried to apprehend Whitmire, who had an open warrant, but he resisted arrest. A hostile crowd then gathered and confronted the police. Whitmire was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including assault on a government official, malicious conduct of a prisoner, and resisting, delaying, and obstructing. (WSPA.com)
2. Heather E. Unbehaun, 40, the woman who was arrested in Asheville on Saturday, May 13, made bail on Tuesday morning, May 16, and was released. Unbehaun was accused of kidnapping her daughter, Kayla Unbehaun, from Illinois in 2017. Unbehaun and Kayla were spotted near Plato's Closet in Asheville after the case was recently featured on the Netflix "Unsolved Mysteries" reboot. Kayla is now in Illinois with her father and Unbehaun is awaiting extradition back to Illinois. (WLOS)
3. Last week, the Western North Carolina (WNC) Nature Center announced the birth of nine critically endangered red wolf pups – eight females and one male who were born on Apr. 28. The pups are all healthy and are being monitored carefully by the Nature Center’s veterinary care team during these first critical weeks. The WNC Nature Center works with the Red Wolf Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, which aims to protect and recover the red wolf population. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, only about 15 to 17 red wolves are living in the wild in Eastern North Carolina, and 235 are in the SAFE program under human care, as of April 2023. (Asheville NC)

Today and tomorrow in Asheville:

Wednesday, May 17

• Well-Crafted Music With Matt Smith At Taproom At Highland Brewing Co. (6:00 PM)
• Rhythm of Women - Drumming For Women By Women At 126 Swannanoa River Road (7:00 PM)

Thursday, May 18

• Hops Around Comedy: Jen O'Neill At Eurisko Beer Company (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The City of Asheville announced Dennis Newburn as the new division manager for the Community and Economic Development Department. Newburn will also manage the HOME and Community Development Block Grant Programs. (Asheville NC)
• The Asheville Police Department (APD) is seeking the public's help in providing information regarding two separate incidents of gun discharge that took place on May 14. The first incident happened near Church Street and Patton Avenue, while the second occurred at the 1060 block of West Chapel Road. Individuals with any relevant information are urged to contact the APD through their phone number, the TIP2APD smartphone application, or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. (Asheville Police Department via Facebook)
• The Asheville Art Museum’s 2023 Gala, a diamond jubilee celebrating 75 years of transforming lives through art, will take place on Saturday, Jun. 17, at 6:00 p.m. The event will include a cocktail reception, sit-down dinner, musical performances, and a live auction. Learn more and secure your tickets here. (Asheville Art Museum via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you back in your inbox soon with another update!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!