Police: Asheville Realtor busted on marijuana charges
Here’s the press release. I edited out the name of realty company the accused works for:
March 7, 2013
Asheville Police Department
Contact: Sgt. Mike Lamb, Criminal Investigations Division
On March 5th 2013 Officers of the Asheville Police Department Drug Suppression Unit purchased illegal narcotics from Benjamin Falcon a Realtor. Falcon was being investigated by the Drug Suppression Unit after information was received stating that Falcon was supplying Realtors with illegal drugs.
Falcon was charged with Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Possession of Marijuana and Felony Possession of Schedule I Narcotics. Falcon was also charged with Felony Maintain a dwelling and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $2500.
Category: Asheville News
Stop the war on drugs already.
When 1/3 to 1/2 of the population is considered a criminal it’s time to wake up & act out on an unjust system with wrongful laws.
That’s one more realtor off the streets.
All because of a plant. The “War on Drugs” has failed our country. This is stupid.
Housing prices are soaring, but not nearly as much as the realtors.
Thumbs down on Ashvegas becoming an extension of the C-T police blotter. Especially since it was primarily just an excuse for you to use that bad pun in the leader sentence.
Thumbs down on boorish commenters.
Actually, Nate, it’s not every day that the Asheville Police Department arrests a Realtor and accuses him of selling dope to other Realtors. That’s blog worthy. Ashvegas is nowhere near becoming a police blotter.
Sorry, but I don’t see how a guy selling pot to his co-workers is somehow more newsworthy just because they happen to work in real estate, which is a pretty common occupation in this town.
And the fact that this sort of thing is unusual for the blog is actually one of the main reasons that I spoke up … as a “loyal reader” I want to register my disapproval before it does turn into a trend.
I agree with Nate.
I’m not sure why the accused’s occupation is the deciding factor in the blogworthiness of the story.
Another example of poor taste and its accompanying defensiveness. I’d like to see a snapshot of the reporter in a moment of humiliation. “We all knew that Asheville media is embarrassing, but not like this!”
…”a moment of embarrassment” – so that’s what we’re calling crime these days? good one! i’ll remember that.
It’s interesting news and glad Jason shared it. 21+ comments should tell you that it should be on Ashvegas.
Ah, crime. This story really is as newsworthy (and salacious) as the mugshot mags found at the hot spot.
I don’t understand what you mean. Are you agreeing with me? (This is directed at “Jason Sandford” … that’s a clever username!)
Everyone knows which firm has the best green in town or in the mountains.
I feel so much safer now! Thanks APD!
Now I know why agents here will never call you back. Twinkie crash
How dare ashvegas post this. I assumed you were tolerant and non-judgmental Jason. So dissapointing on a very deep level.
Easy to make that assumption, but I remember when this blog posted pics of a guy smoking a j downtown and made a big fuss about public toking.
what a shame. LEGALIZE IT. Stop arresting and ruining the lives of innocent people over a plant. And shame on this blog for showing the guys picture and calling him out. It’s weed, a plant from the earth, not some harmful prescription drugs! Think about it Jason
Don’t like it? Don’t read it. You’ll find another supplier. There are almost as many of those as there are realtors.
He is a journalist. This story is newsworthy. That is why there are 13 comments here as opposed to zero on the Big Boi piece.
“I assumed you were tolerant and non-judgemental”? What is that even supposed to mean? Maybe “I expect you to censor your posts to please me because I am ‘tolerant and non-judgemental’”. Oh the irony…
I love it . . . the majority of the comments on the post are criticizing the fact that it was posted at all, and then you cite the number of comments as a reason the story is “newsworthy.” That’s some fancy gymnastics.
This story is no more newsworthy than all the other minor-to-moderate drug arrests that occur in this community every week, none of which are ever posted on Ashvegas. The fact that this guy’s arrest offers the opportunity for some cheap real estate jokes isn’t enough justification for joining the Citizen-Times on the naming-and-shaming beat.
Nate – What is your background? I am curious as to what would make you an expert on what is newsworthy or not. I find it newsworthy and interesting.
Journalist? Bit of a reach in my opinion. Last time I saw Jason Sanford, he was carrying around a life sized Obama cutout and taking pictures of himself with it around town.
Blogger? Yep. Journalist? Mehhhh…….
The worse part is Ben being the supply guy to the owners and selling drugs to buyers.
No Kathy, the worst part is that our hard earned american tax dollars are being used to punish people for petty crimes. How much did it cost the tax payers to put that “EXTREMELY DANGEROUS” realtor behind bars? While women are getting raped and people are smoking meth all over our city, this crime is no where near the worst part of anything. PATRIOTS NOWADAYS NEED TO HAVE ACCOUNTING SKILLS, and we start with our own city.
Wait… I didn’t know this was a crime, I thought it was just illegal?!
“Kathy” is definitely a crooked-cop or a rat, for neither of her claims are true.
This story was featured on WLOS, it was included in the CT’s Facebook “crime page”, the Mountain Xpress also felt it newsworthy …
I don’t understand those who feel the inclusion here was inappropriate … after all this “blogs” tag line is “The City you love the NEWS you want” … if you don’t want news here then look elsewhere.
Really Jason, what decade or century do you live in? Most progressive states have legalized it. To just put the poor guys photo and publicize his humiliation is just lowdown and muckraking. Like you yourself dont smoke it as well as most of the staff at your newspaper. Get the crack pipe out of your self righteous mouth. Btw you deleted who he works for. Quite the company man you are
All of this, while the police chiefs son, who works for the water department, is driving around with a gun in his car, crashing, then fleeing the scene. Lets get his picture up here! Where is the justice?
Wow, thank god they’re going to fuck this guy’s life up over weed. Way to go Asheville police, really serving the needs of your citizens.