Local and state law enforcement are searching for Ryan Ricky Houston who is now considered "armed and dangerous." New court filings show his ankle monitor device stopped working shortly before he was involved in a recent car wreck, after which a woman died upon arrival to a nearby hospital.
Houston, 41, of Weaverville, is a suspect in a home invasion in McDowell County that occurred shortly before midnight Aug. 1, according to an Aug. 2 announcement from the McDowell County Sheriff's Office. They asked if anyone sees Houston or the vehicle he was last known to be driving, a navy blue 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 truck, that they not approach Houston, but to contact law enforcement immediately.
Before the home invasion, Houston's black four-door Mercedes sedan, was seen at about 10 p.m. speeding at an excess of 100 mph while traveling east on Interstate 40 in McDowell County, according to an Aug. 2 court filing. A N.C. State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to catch the sedan and initiate a traffic stop.
Currently out on bond for previous charges related to shooting a Buncombe County Sheriff's deputy, Houston's ankle monitor device was "cut off and/or stopped tracking" at 10:03 p.m., based on information in court records from Buncombe County Pretrial Services. Houston's monitor was paired with a "tether/break phone" that was later discovered in McDowell County. The ankle monitor has not been found.
The trooper in pursuit of Houston's sedan discovered the car was involved in an accident near the Parker Padgett Road Exit of I-40. The trooper saw Houston and a woman near the Mercedes and the crash site. The woman was "showing signs of injury and needed immediate medical attention," according to the court filing.
While the trooper attended to the woman, Houston fled the scene, according to court records. There is no indication whether he fled on foot or in a vehicle. The woman was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where she "was declared dead on arrival." The Citizen Times is not releasing her name because it is not yet confirmed if her next of kin has been notified.
After the accident, law enforcement say Houston forced his way into a home in McDowell County, assaulted the homeowner and stole a firearm and vehicle. The car was seen shortly after on I-40 near Exit 90.
It's believed Houston then broke into Skyline Marine off I-40 Exit 90 and stole the Chevrolet Silverado. The truck is a four-door crew cab with the words "Skyline Marine," "Honda" and "Bass Cat" on the back glass.
The McDowell County Sheriff's Office has obtained felony warrants on Houston and he is being sought by law enforcement.
Anyone with information should contact Capt. Shanon Smith with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office at 828-652-2235 or their local 911 center if an emergency.
More: Sheriff's deputy files 'rare' lawsuit against man who shot him at Buncombe County jail
Buncombe County charges
In a separate incident, Houston was charged with shooting a deputy outside of the Buncombe County Detention Facility in May 2023.
He is currently out on bond from the Buncombe County jail, after being charged with attempted first-degree murder and assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm on May 10, 2023. He was released on bond twice for these charges, once on Aug. 1, 2023, after posting his original $1.5 million bond, the Citizen Times previously reported.
He was arrested six days later for a pre-trial release violation and given a $2.7 million bond, which he posted and was released Aug. 17, 2023.
On Nov. 27, Buncombe County Judge Jacqueline Grant ordered Houston was allowed to leave Buncombe County for work purposes only with prior approval from pre-trial release, according to court documents.
The Aug. 2 court filing is for a motion to revoke Houston's bond by District Attorney Todd William's Office. The motion said Houston "presents a clear disregard to the order of the Court to follow the Electronic Monitoring provisions of Pretrial Release and the greater law in general." Assistant District Attorney Kyle Sherard argued Houston's behavior "poses a risk of danger to himself and the greater public."
Houston still awaits trial in Buncombe County after authorities said he walked into the lobby of the jail at 20 Davidson Drive in downtown Asheville around 1:40 a.m. May 7, 2023, and started communicating threats to his wife, according to a civil summons document. Sheriff's Deputy William Johnston, who is suing Houston, attempted to speak with him and de-escalate the situation, but Houston became "further enraged" with the deputy, according to the court document.
More: Newly obtained records: May jail gunfight involved female driver, juvenile, love triangle?
When Johnston and APD officer Megan Hansford approached to arrest him, Houston "resisted arrest and an altercation ensued," according to a sheriff's office news release. Houston produced a firearm and shot Johnston in the shoulder. Johnston returned fire and struck Houston, who fled the scene.
Houston waslater taken into custody at Mission Hospitalaround 2:29 a.m. May 7, according to police call logs.
A request for a domestic violence protective order filed by Houston's wife shortly after his arrest states Houston had a pattern of threatening the use of violence with a firearm and other threats.
"Children have witnessed altercations as well as continued arguments and nonstop calling," the complaint obtained by the Citizen Times said.
More: Buncombe County jail gunfight suspect has court date: What happened?
This story will be updated.
Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: McDowell County deputies search for man considered armed and dangerous
