Three charged after West Asheville search yields fentanyl, meth and guns

Asheville Police Department detectives arrested three people and seized 53.14 grams of fentanyl, 27.66 grams of marijuana, 6.83 grams of methamphetamine, four handguns and $5,016 following a search of a Michigan Avenue residence in West Asheville, police said. The operation grew out of repeated community complaints about illegal drug activity in the Short Michigan Avenue area and culminated after officers made contact late on Feb. 17.

Officers first made contact with Jami Marie Lee Tressler, 32 (DOB 09/07/1993), at about 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 17 in the Short Michigan Avenue area, and found her in possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine and a large amount of cash, according to Asheville police and WSPA reporting. Investigators observed Tressler leave a nearby Michigan Avenue residence and obtained a search warrant for that home, which led to the subsequent search and arrests.

During the executed search, officers located and seized 53.14 grams of fentanyl; 27.66 grams of marijuana; 6.83 grams of methamphetamine; $5,016 in U.S. currency; and four handguns, including a Taurus .357 Magnum, a Glock 43X, a Taurus G3C and a Palmetto Dagger that was reported stolen, per the Asheville Police Department Facebook post and WSPA. The APD post summarized the operation under the headline “APD Arrests Three on Gun and Drug Charges.”

Two people were taken into custody at the residence during the search: Irvin Franklin Freeman, 55 (DOB 07/10/1970), and Kara Nicole Ervin, 28 (DOB 05/20/1997). APD and WSPA say Freeman faces felony counts including possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, and maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances; WSPA reports he was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility and is ineligible for release. Ervin faces possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and, according to WSPA and WLOS, was booked and later released after posting bond.

APD’s Facebook post lists a multi-count charge package for Tressler: three counts of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, Level III trafficking of fentanyl by possession, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession Schedule VI and simple possession Schedule II. The APD post states Tressler was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $250,000 secured bond (or $25,000 to a bondsman); WSPA reported she was later released after posting bond.

Police say the arrests were the result of follow-up work from neighborhood complaints about illegal drug activity in the west Asheville community. Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is asked by APD to call (828) 252-1110. Investigation details and charges remain subject to prosecution and court scheduling as the cases proceed through Buncombe County courts.