Latest news with #HaywoodCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New armored vehicle provides cover for Haywood's deputies
May 14—A new piece of equipment at the Haywood County Sheriff's Office helps protect deputies during intense situations. The Bearcat is an armored vehicle that the sheriff's office can deploy during a standoff. "It's a big safety net," Capt. David Greathouse said. "We used to do it like a bunch of cowboys and jump in the back of a pickup truck or in a tin van and just drive up and jump out and hope for the best. With this, we can take a calculated risk, sit, give commands and give the opportunity for somebody to surrender." Greathouse said the vehicle is an ideal tool for de-escalation, despite its intimidating appearance. "We're in a bullet-resistant box for whatever," he said. "Everyone looks at it as a crazy tank, but it truly allows us to make an attempt to de-escalate by being there, talking over the PA, being present, but at the same time still being safe. People look at it as this aggressive thing, but its true essence is de-escalation." The sheriff's office was given the go-ahead to purchase the vehicle back in May 2022 at the price of $179,725. Of that money, just under $80,000 came from drug forfeiture money, $84,000 came from grant funding from the NC Department of Public Safety, $5,000 came from donations and $11,000 from the sheriff's office's budget in 2022. Lenco, the company behind the Bearcat, takes an old Department of Energy truck and refurbishes it into the armored vehicle it becomes. This one spent most of its original life running patrols at a nuclear facility in Maryland. The vehicle got a total remodel to turn into what it is today. "They strip it completely down. New engine, new everything but the drive train, new tires, new wheels, new paint," Greathouse said. That new engine is even newer. The sheriff's office received the Bearcat about a year ago and had some troubles out of the box. "We had some mechanical difficulties," Greathouse said. "The remanufactured engine blew up when we got it. It was all completely under warranty, so we basically had a new engine built and put it in." Since getting into operation, the Bearcat has been deployed once, to a standoff with a fugitive wanted out of Tennessee. During that standoff, tear gas was deployed. "We deploy gas manually as an agency," Greathouse said. "We still get up in the turret and we'll shoot something through the window to break the window and then deploy the gas through the broken window." But the Bearcat offers another option, as well. The front arm can punch a hole in the side of a house and launch gas in that way. "Ultimately, you're fully shielded at that point," Greathouse said. The vehicle can also be used for rescue missions. The front arm has a push plate that can move vehicles out of the way if needed. The heavy frame and off-road capabilities also make it a candidate for rescues in flooded areas. "It won't float," Greathouse said. The vehicle can also comfortably cruise at highway speeds. No matter where it's needed, the Bearcat can be there quickly. It has also been used for community outreach events, such as visits to Junaluska and Hazelwood Elementary. "They got their picture made with it. They thought that was the coolest thing ever," said Gina Zachary, sheriff's office public information officer. "A lot of the kids wrote notes and they tried to draw this. It was great."
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rattlesnake Branch Fire tops 800 acres
Mar. 28—The Rattlesnake Branch Fire in Cruso continues to grow, increasing by about 170 acres overnight Thursday. Currently, no homes are threatened by the blaze thanks to the vigilance of fire crews that have been back burning fire lines around the perimeter of homes. "There are about 100 structures in the general area of the fire. But there are no homes directly threatened right now," said Allison Richmond, Haywood County Emergency Management public information officer. The fire started Wednesday afternoon on a hillside above the Cruso Fire Department and quickly grew to 200 acres by nightfall. By Thursday, morning it had reached 500 acres. By Thursday night, it was 629 acres with 5% containment. As of mid-day Friday, it had grown to 795 acres with the same 5% containment. However, 289 acres were the controlled burn to protect structures in the area, according to Haywood County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Gina Zachary. "It's not growing terribly fast, which is great news," Richmond said. Eighty firefighters are on scene battling the blaze. On Thursday, they spent the day constructing firebreaks with dozers and by hand along U.S. 276 to keep the fire back from the road and away from houses. In addition to clearing leaf litter and brush, crews ignited fires along containment lines — called back burning — near homes. "Most of the homes and structures in that area have been worked up and close and surrounded and they have teams there," Richmond said. "Each home and structure has protection as they bring those fires down in close. A lot of that work in that area is completed." The work Thursday was focused along Rattlesnake Branch Road and Crawford Creek Road. Friday, that work moved towards homes on Eagles Trace and near the Cruso Fire Department. The fire has filled Cruso and parts of Bethel with smoke, which means a decrease in air quality. "Increased fire activity will increase smoke production and degrade air quality in the area. Asheville and surrounding areas will likely see air that is unhealthy for sensitive groups," a press release from the U.S. Forest Service reads. Evacuating Shining Rock The Shining Rock Wilderness Area and the Blue Ridge Parkway between Mount Pisgah and Black Balsam remains closed due to the fire. Some backpackers were already in the area when the fire broke out Wednesday night, witnessed by vehicles parked at trailheads overnight. Those vehicles were gone by Thursday, indicating the hikers left. But despite closure signs at trailheads, there are still concerns. "We're still encountering hikers in places we don't want them to be. There's been some people blatantly disobeying the signage," Richmond said. Meanwhile, some on long-distance backpacking trips could be crossing into the Shining Rock Wilderness Area from the Jackson County side of the Parkway. "We're having a few concerns about hikers who aren't aware of what's going on. So they've got trail guards or forest service staff that are hiking the trails and directing people as they're encountering them," Richmond said. "We just don't want anyone moving into an area where fire behavior is changing." Additionally, there is a temporary flight restriction five miles around Cruso, up to 5,000 feet above ground level.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Haywood County chase under investigation after 19-year-old's death
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Haywood County Sheriff's Office is investigating a high-speed chase that ended with the death of a 19-year-old. JaMarion Russell was found dead in a water-filled ditch on Mar. 3 after his car crashed and he ran from a Haywood County deputy. According to a release by Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett, Jr., a deputy stopped the 2016 Dodge Charger on Briarcreek Road near Highway 19 West for traffic violations. ORGINAL STORY: Man found dead in ditch after running from Haywood County deputy Garrett says when the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver accelerated at a high rate of speed north on Briarcreek with the deputy in pursuit, and the deputy discontinued the pursuit when it appeared the driver was not going to stop. According to reports, the deputy did continue on Briarcreek Road and, from the curve, he saw where the Charger left the roadway, flew over this ditch, and hit a large tree. Deputies say Russell bailed out of his vehicle and ran away, and they lost sight of him on the other side of the ditch. Teenager moves to adult court for 2023 alleged shooting Sheriff Garrett says that JaMarion Russell's mother was notified of the crash from her son's phone and, along with family members, searched for the 19-year-old who was found deceased several hours later about 150 yards from the crash site in a water-filled ditch. Russell's mother reached out to WREG with questions and concerns about her son's death and the investigation and agreed to meet at the crash site for an interview but did not show up or return calls. Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett, Jr. declined an interview out of respect and sympathy for the grieving family. He said he would wait on the autopsy report and funeral services before meeting with the victim's family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
