72-year-old man charged with arson

A 72-year-old man is behind bars under a $750,000 bond facing charges for setting a Jackson Hamlet home on fire.

The Brooklyn, New York man was arrested early Saturday morning, said Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields in a statement.

James McDowell was charged by deputies with one count of felony first-degree arson and one count of misdemeanor injury to real property.

Emergency crews extinguished the fire on Cotton Street, and “one resident was treated for minor injuries resulting from smoke inhalation.”

McDowell was detained at the scene.

“An investigation into the circumstances leading to the fire being set is ongoing,” said Fields.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in Moore County district court on February 16 and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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