ROCKINGHAM — Police reportedly used a drone to find an Anson County man accused of setting fire to a home with children inside.
According to the Rockingham Police Department, 46-year-old Reginald O’Dell Jr., of Wadesboro, intentionally set fire to a home on Ashley Street on Sunday, March 8.
O’Dell allegedly forced his way into the home and set it on fire, burning a couch, living room, dining room and kitchen.
Investigators say two children were hiding inside at the time the fire was set, but were able to escape unharmed after the fire alarms were activated.
A warrant was issued the same day as the fire, charging O’Dell with: two counts of attempted first-degree murder; first-degree arson; first-degree burglary; and burning personal property.
(NOTE: Court records show two identical warrants with separate file numbers.)
RPD investigators — with help from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — reportedly found the defendant at a Gaston McLean Road residence on Friday, March 13.
The department’s Aerial Vehicle Team was used “to conduct preoperational surveillance” on the home, during which time O’Dell was reportedly seen leaving the residence and walking into nearby woods.
The UAV Team reportedly guided officers and agents to the defendant as he hid in the woods.
“This level of surveillance and operational assistance was made possible by the Rockingham Police Department’ s new DJI Matrice 4T drone,” reads a press release posted to the RPD Facebook page.
The drone was reportedly put into service earlier in the year and has several features that “significantly enhance the department’s previous UAV capabilities,” including: extended flight time; a 20-mile range; an infrared thermal camera; and 112x zoom capabilities.
“This arrest is another example of the Rockingham Police Department’s commitment to providing the citizens of Rockingham with the highest level of service by equipping our officers with advanced technology, specialized training, and equipment,” reads the release.
Police say O’Dell was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Richmond County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court March 26.
Online court records show O’Dell has the following pending charges in Anson County: three counts of trafficking in methamphetamine; two counts maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana; felony possession of marijuana; possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises; and possession of a firearm by a felon.
O’Dell also has pending traffic citations in Union and Anson counties.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show O’Dell has the following prior convictions:
2001 - injury to personal property, assault on a female (Anson)
2004 - assault on a female (Anson)
2007 - habitual misdemeanor assault, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (Anson)
2008 - possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, communicating threats, assault by pointing a gun, habitual misdemeanor assault (Guilford)
2018 - possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance (Anson)
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
