Newly sworn Asheville officer suspended after arrest on trespassing, assault warrants

Paul Anthony Duvernay III, identified by Fox Carolina as 39, was arrested in Swannanoa by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office on warrants for "assault on a female" and placed on investigative suspension by the Asheville Police Department, authorities said. APD officers opened the matter after responding to a trespassing complaint at an apartment complex on Palisades Circle.

WLOS reports that officers responded to the Palisades Circle call on February 20 and that Duvernay had just graduated from the department’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy that same day. Fox Carolina and WLOS say the arrest was made the following day, February 21, in Swannanoa; Local3news’ reporting contains ambiguous phrasing on the arrest date but cites online court records showing a scheduled appearance on Monday, February 23.

WSPA and Yahoo reported APD obtained warrants as a result of the Palisades Circle investigation. Fox Carolina summarized the department’s account, writing, "Following an investigation, warrants were obtained for Duvernay, police say." Local outlets consistently identify the offense wording as "assault on a female."

Booking records reported by WSPA, Fox Carolina and WLOS place Duvernay in the Buncombe County Detention Facility or Detention Center. WSPA reported, "He was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility where he is being held under no bond and under a 48-hour domestic violence hold." Fox Carolina likewise said, "He is being held under no bond by a magistrate. He is ineligible for release and is being held under a 48-hour domestic violence hold."

The Asheville Police Department confirmed the incident occurred within Asheville city limits and said Duvernay had recently been sworn in as an officer. WSPA quoted APD: "Asheville Police Department said Duvernay recently graduated Basic Law Enforcement Training and was recently sworn in as a police officer, and he was immediately placed on investigative suspension. An internal investigation has been initiated by the department." Multiple outlets report the department will not release additional information at this time; Fox Carolina stated, "According to police, no further details will be released at this time."

Reporting includes two biographical markers: Fox Carolina names Duvernay as 39 years old, while WLOS lists his date of birth as 02/24/1986. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is identified by local coverage as the arresting agency in Swannanoa, and Local3news cites online court records indicating a Feb. 23 court appearance.

APD has initiated an internal investigation and placed Duvernay on an investigative suspension while criminal proceedings proceed under the magistrate-issued 48-hour domestic violence hold. Further developments, including formal filings from the Buncombe County Clerk of Court or statements from the district attorney, were not available in the reports.