🌱 Asheville PD Find Automatic Ghost Gun During Arrest + Couple Robbed

Hi all. It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Asheville Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 68 Low: 47.
• Saturday: Warmer with clouds and sun. High: 75 Low: 51.

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Here are the top three stories in Asheville today:

1. On Apr. 12, Asheville police arrested 30-year-old Jayleen Marquse Boston in connection with a domestic violence case. Police found more than 44 grams of fentanyl, 25 grams of methamphetamine, and a modified fully automatic Polymer 80 “ghost gun.” Brown has been charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present, assault by strangulation, child abuse assault, and more. (WSPA)
2. Asheville police are searching for the man who robbed a couple at gunpoint on Tuesday night, Apr. 11. The couple was walking to their car after eating at a downtown restaurant near North Market Street when the suspect approached with a gun. The suspect threatened to shoot the woman if she screamed, he then took the man's wallet and woman's purse and pushed the woman to the ground before fleeing the scene. Police are asking for the public's help in locating the suspect and described him as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches, skinny build, short goatee, wearing a navy sweatshirt with a hood over his head, and dark jeans. (WLOS)
3. Asheville police are searching for the person who intentionally set a fire outside of Jan Davis Tire Store on Patton Avenue at around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Apr. 7. Surveillance video showed two people walking by the store right before the fire started. Police ask anyone with information about this case to call APD at (828) 252-1110. (WLOS)

Today and tomorrow in Asheville:

Friday, April 14

• Comedy At Catawba: Carter Deems At Catawba Brewing Company South Slope (7:00 PM)
• Live Music With ImiJ Of Soul At Highland Downtown Taproom (7:00 PM)

Saturday, April 15

• Don't Tell Comedy Asheville Show At Noble Cider Downtown (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The City of Asheville is celebrating Food Waste Reduction Month with a month-long social media campaign and a "Taste It, Don’t Waste It!" chefs cook-off event! The event will be held at 2 p.m. on Apr. 30 at Devil’s Foot’s The Mule taproom. (Asheville NC)
• According to a Forbes study, Asheville is the "30th worst U.S. city for Airbnb fees." The study found that customers face an average of 40 percent in fees on top of nightly rates in Asheville. (Mountain Xpress)
• A new hotel, The Restoration Asheville Hotel located at 68 Patton Ave., just opened in Asheville! The family-owned establishment said it will focus on the local community, not just tourists, and has hired all local staff. The hotel has 60 rooms, restaurants, bars, a rooftop patio, a bowling alley, and an underground speakeasy with live music. (WLOS)

That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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!