The photo above is of suspect Roy Anthony Potter, a 59-year-old male, of Kelly.
On Monday afternoon, investigators with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Forest Service Law Enforcement Division arrested Roy Anthony Potter, a 59-year-old male, of Kelly. Potter was charged with setting (18) brush and wood fires along several Kelly area roads.
According to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, from May 17 to August 9, 2021, (18) brush fires were set in the Kelly area beside several roads during a burning ban imposed by the North Carolina Forest Service. Several of the fires were big enough that air tankers had to be brought in to help extinguish the fires along with the Kelly Fire Department.
Potter was charged with (18) counts of NCGS 14-136 – Setting Fire to Grass, Brushland, or Woodlands With Intent to Damage Property of Another and placed in the Bladen County Detention Center under a $45,000 secure bond.
According to law enforcement, more charges are anticipated for the suspect in Columbus County for six (6) fires set during the same period.
Anyone with information on these fires can contact the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 862-6960.
According to the United States Constitution, suspects are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
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