Facebook-savvy police surprise Patton Avenue cruisers and call for moderation

When West Asheville cruisers on Patton Avenue used Facebook to organize a Sept. 3 gathering, the Asheville Police Department turned up too — but the cops’ intention was to quiet the party. “Contrary to popular belief, we don’t want to shut it down for you all. I mean, what is there to do in town?” asked the lead officer. “The only thing we’re asking for is a little bit of cooperation and exercise a little bit of common sense out here. Okay?”

His audience seemed to enjoy the attention and be amenable to the APD’s requests.

Showing that the APD isn’t the only social-media-savvy bunch, CarGuyVideos captured the exchange with his video camera and published it on YouTube.

Here’s what the police told the gathering:

Here’s a look at the general scene that evening: