Buncombe County -- July 28, 2026: Authorities in Buncombe County are requesting the public's assistance in locating a suspect who fled from law enforcement following a vehicle pursuit in the Fairview community.
At approximately 12:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, members of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Illegal Gun Reduction and Narcotics Task Force (IGRANT) attempted to execute a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 53-year-old James Eugene Cole III. At the time of the stop, Cole was wanted on outstanding failure-to-appear warrants stemming from prior BCSO investigations.
Rather than stopping, Cole fled the scene in his vehicle, initiating a brief vehicle chase through the Fairview area. The pursuit ended near the 900 block of Old Fort Road, where Cole crashed his vehicle and fled on foot into the surrounding area.
A multi-agency search effort was immediately launched to locate the suspect. Agencies assisting the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office in the search include:
The U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Asheville
Broad River Fire Department
Numerous additional deputies and officers from the BCSO
Cole remains at large and is facing additional charges resulting from the pursuit and crash.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to residents in the Fairview community who provided assistance to law enforcement during the search operations on Tuesday.
How to Help
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of James Eugene Cole III is urged to contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office or local law enforcement immediately.
