Woman Arrested for Setting Leaves on Fire

ASHEBORO N.C. – A woman was arrested this weekend during her second run-in with police after she set several piles of leaves on fire, endangering a house and local church, and then left the scene.

On Nov 19th, 2022, Randolph County 911 dispatched fire crews and deputies from the Randolph County Sheriff’s office to Foster St. after receiving a call about a female lighting leaves on fire in the side ditch near a residence.

According to information from the Sheriff’s Office, when deputies arrived a fire was burning up the bank of the ditch towards the residence and across the street in the ditch burning towards the Foster Wesleyan Church. The 911 caller reported that the female that set the fires left walking down Foster St. towards Hall St. and gave a description of what she was wearing.

The Fire Department was dispatched and quickly extinguished the fire. A deputy located the female, identified as Emory Dennis, walking south on Zoo Parkway. She was detained and transported back to Foster St. during the investigation.

Police had had a previous run-in with Dennis earlier in the day. Deputies were called to US 220 Bus. South, near Burney Rd. Upon arrival, deputies observed Emory Dennis rolling a tire down the road near Ready Mart. She stated that while she was rolling the tire, it got away from her and a vehicle struck it. There was no damage to the vehicle and no charges.

Dennis was placed under arrest and transported to the Randolph County Jail. There a magistrate found probable cause for the charges of Misdemeanor Set Fire To Woods/Lands/Fields and Misdemeanor Injury to Real Property and placed her under a $6,000 secured bond. A first appearance is set for today.