ASHEBORO N.C. – The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office announced several charges against a local man related to an intentional fire set at a DMV office and deputies didn’t have to go far to find him as he was already in jail accused of stealing a car.
On November 24, 2022, at around 5 pm, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Office on US Hwy 220 Bus. S., Asheboro, after receiving a call about breaking & entering and larceny.
When deputies arrived, they were met by a fire investigator from the Randolph County Fire Marshal’s Office and representatives of the DMV Office. According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office, the fire investigator told deputies that an exterior metal storage building had been broken into and a fire had been intentionally set inside the building.
At nearly the same time the Asheboro Police Department responded to a call at the Ready Mart located on S. Fayetteville St, Asheboro, in reference to a ‘suspicious person who had attempted to obtain merchandise and was harassing customers’. Asheboro Officers located the suspect and observed the male subject, identified in a police report as Sy Dalton Singletary, wearing a NCDMV patched jacket. Not having information to connect Singletary with the fire near-by Singletary was released but the encounter was captured on a body worn camera.
The Asheboro officer then went to the DMV Office since it was near where Singletary was encountered and spoke with deputies informing them, they had just encountered Singletary and that he was wearing a NCDMV jacket (later found to be consistent with jackets stored in the building that had been set on fire).
Police officers and deputies searched the area but could not find Mr. Singletary.
On December 9th, 2022, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to NC Hwy 42 S in Asheboro, after getting a call about a stolen vehicle.
The victim told police they had stopped at the BP and went inside the store but when they came back out their vehicle was missing. Witnesses were able to identify the suspect who stole the car as Sy Dalton Singletary. Police sent out a Be-On-The-Look-Out (BOLO) alert to all local law enforcement.
A short time later, another deputy stopped the vehicle at Willie Wright Rd., and Troy Caviness Rd. with Singletary driving it. He was placed under arrest. During a subsequent search, paraphernalia was located.
Singletary was transported to the Randolph County Jail where the magistrate found probable cause for charges of Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Felony Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was issued a $35,000 secured bond. A first appearance was set for December 12, 2022, in Randolph County District Court.
During the magistrate’s arraignment, Singletary was found in contempt of the court proceedings and was sentenced to 15 days of confinement at the Randolph County Detention Center.
Singletary was served additional charges on December 12, 2022 after the conclusion of a joint investigation by the County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Criminal Investigations Division. A detective presented details to the magistrate, who found probable cause for the charges of felony breaking and/or entering, felony possession of stolen property certain felony, felony burning personal property, and felony burning public buildings against Singletary. He was issued an additional $30,000 secured bond and a first appearance was set for December 13, 2022, in Randolph County District Court.
Sy Dalton Singletary
- Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle
- Felony Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle
- Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Felony breaking and/or entering
- Felony possession of stolen property
- Felony burning personal property
- Felony burning public buildings
- (Contempt of the court proceedings)
$65,000 Secured Bond