A local man was arrested after police say he started several outside fires and then barricaded himself in a building near Eagle Springs on Thursday morning. Authorities say this all happened after a family dispute.
When first responders arrived at the scene on Monroe Drive near Big Oak Church Road for an outdoor fire, they discovered several small fores, one of which was a structure. According to the MCSO, when deputies arrived, 37-year-old Ronnie Joe-Hugh Boone of Eagle Springs fled into a building and barricaded himself inside.
Authorities deployed the new BearCat tactical vehicle to assist at the scene. The vehicle successfully breached the front of the building, where Boone used furniture to block the entryway, police say. This allowed officers to safely apprehend Boone. This was the first extrication incident the BearCat has been used since the Moore County Sheriff’s Office acquired it in the fall of 2024.
Boone is now facing multiple charges including second degree arson, setting fire to brushlands and woodlands, burning of personal property, and resisting a public officer. He is currently detained at the Moore County Detention Center under a $250,000 secure bond, and is scheduled to appear in court on February 6, 2025.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene including Eagle Springs Fire Department, N.C. Forestry Service, the SRT team from Moore County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, and Moore County Public Safety.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
