Asheville police say kidnapping, robbery spree terrorized downtown businesses
Police say a Broadway boutique was the first stop in a kidnapping and robbery spree that ended with Harold D. Rogers Jr. in jail under no bond.
Asheville police arrested 60-year-old Harold D. Rogers Jr. after he turned a downtown clothing boutique into the first stop in a violent spree that shook Broadway, sent one employee to the rear of the store, and ended only after a chase through a nearby apartment complex.
The episode began around 5 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at Vida by Vivian, the clothing and accessories boutique at 13 Broadway in downtown Asheville. Rogers walked in, looked around, turned the front-door sign to closed, locked the door and forced a female employee to the rear of the business, where he assaulted her and tied her up. He also took merchandise before fleeing.
The victim’s brother and a bystander kicked open the front door and chased Rogers through the rear door. During the broader spree, Rogers also stole a delivery truck. Officers later used the truck’s cameras and GPS to locate it after a collision on Mountain Street, then found Rogers in a nearby apartment complex, where he surrendered.
Asheville police charged him with first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault on a female. He was taken to the Buncombe County Detention Facility under no bond. More charges could be added as the investigation continues.
Police data made public through the city’s open data portal showed a 2025 uptick in downtown trespassing, public intoxication and other crime calls. APD data showed citywide violent crime fell 37% in 2025 compared with the prior year, and Asheville recorded its fewest homicides since 2017.
In May 2026, Asheville City Council approved federal funding for APD to build a real-time intelligence center and camera network.
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