APD Arrest Four on Gun Charges, Trafficking Cocaine, Meth

Asheville -- July 25, 2024: Asheville Police Department Press Release: Asheville Police Detectives arrested

four on drug trafficking and gun charges Tuesday afternoon in east Asheville. 

While conducting proactive enforcement in the east Asheville area, APD detectives made contact with Brandon Michael Marler around 3:19 p.m. on July 23rd near the 500 block of Tunnel Road. During the arrest, Marler was found to be in illegal possession of a firearm and was taken into custody without incident.

Later in the shift, detectives attempted to make contact with Vance William Keeter Jr.  near the 1400 block of Tunnel Road. He fled on foot from officers as he tossed a shoulder bag. Officers quickly took him into custody and retrieved the discarded shoulder bag. During the arrest, he was found to be in possession of two guns, methamphetamine and crack cocaine. Detectives also made contact with two others around the same time, arresting Vance William Keeler Sr. (03/12/1967) and Diane Bradley Holt (01/15/1981) on drug trafficking and weapon charges.  

Seized:

-FEG GKK45C pistol

-Taurus G3 pistol 

-Taurus PT111G2 pistol

-Derringer pistol

-98.06g of meth

-29.82g of cocaine

-2DU of oxycodone pills

Arrested:

Vance William Keeter Jr 

-Possession of Firearm by Felon

-Trafficking in Cocaine by Possession

-Trafficking in Methamphetamine by Possession

-Possession With Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine

-Possession With Intent to Sell or Deliver Methamphetamine

-Possession With Intent to Sell or Deliver Schedule II

-Maintain a Dwelling for Controlled Substances

-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Keeter was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under NO BOND (ineligible for release) by a magistrate due to Possession of Firearm by a Felon.

Vance William Keeter Sr 

-Conspire to Traffic in Cocaine

-Conspire to Traffic in Methamphetamine

-Maintain a Dwelling for Controlled Substances

Keeter was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under NO BOND (ineligible for release) by a magistrate due to the Pretrial Integrity Act.

Brandon Michael Marler 

-Possession of Firearm by Felon

-Carrying a Concealed Gun

-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Marler was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $15,000 (or $1,500 to a bondsman) secured bond issued by a magistrate. 

Diane Bradley Holt

-Felony Possession of Schedule II

Holt was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $5,000 (or $500 to a bondsman) secured bond issued by a magistrate and has since been released. 

If you have information about illegal gun or drug activity, you are encouraged to contact APD at (828) 252-1110. You can also send an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. 

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.