Buncombe County -- February 14, 2026: A stolen vehicle led to the arrest of a Swannanoa man after a crime spree in Buncombe County. The arrest highlights the role of technology and inter-agency cooperation in tracking and apprehending suspects in the region.
Bryan George Coleman, 50, of Swannanoa, was arrested on Thursday, February 5, after a three-day crime spree in eastern Buncombe County. Sheriff's deputies tracked a stolen vehicle Coleman was driving, leading to his apprehension after a brief chase.
Details of the Arrest
Coleman faces many charges, including felony first-degree burglary, multiple counts of felony uttering a forged instrument, felony obtaining property by false pretenses, felony attempted obtaining property by false pretenses, felony financial card theft, felony larceny after breaking or entering, misdemeanor financial card fraud, felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, felony fleeing to elude arrest, no operator’s license, reckless driving to endanger, and failure to stop at a steady red light.
Coleman was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility.
Investigation Details
The crime spree began on the morning of Tuesday, February 3, and ended with Coleman's arrest on Thursday, February 5. The incidents occurred in eastern Buncombe County, spanning multiple jurisdictions including Swannanoa, Black Mountain, and Montreat.
The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) Illegal Gun Reduction and Narcotics Task Force (IGRANT) agents and detectives led the effort, partnering with Black Mountain Police Department and Montreat Police Department. A second stolen vehicle from Black Mountain was recovered after questioning Coleman.
*Suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.