A Mooresville man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after he allegedly set a car on fire while someone was inside, local authorities reported. The incident, which raised immediate concerns over the victim's safety, occurred last Thursday, but the details have only recently come into clear view following police investigation and the suspect's arrest yesterday.
According to the Mooresville Police Department, officers received a report of an active vehicle fire. The investigation led them to believe that the suspect, 27-year-old Clayton Morrison Broyhill, was responsible for the deliberate act. The victim, who was not identified, managed to escape the blaze without sustaining serious injuries, as reported by The Charlotte Observer. In a grim twist, the car was allegedly set ablaze with the intent to harm, if not kill, the victim, the publication added.
When confronted by law enforcement, Broyhill initially refused to leave his residence, prompting a response from the MPD’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team, which eventually persuaded him to surrender. The subsequent arrest was a combined effort, involving MPD detectives and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, as detailed in a statement obtained by QC News. Broyhill now faces charges of burning personal property communicating threats, and misdemeanor domestic violence in addition to the assault charge.
Further complicating the case, a subsequent search of Broyhill's residence led to an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a felon. He is currently being held without bond at Iredell County Jail, according to information provided by WCNC.
