A license plate reader alert indicating that a vehicle associated with Mitchell had entered Burlington on Wednesday morning led police straight to a Fayetteville man wanted on warrants for statutory rape of a child and multiple counts of forcible sexual offense. Michael Dwayne Mitchell, 38, was taken into custody shortly after 9:30 a.m. and is now being held without bond at the Alamance County Detention Center.
According to abc45.com, Burlington officers received the automated license plate reader alert at about 9:38 a.m. Wednesday indicating that a vehicle associated with Mitchell had entered the city. Officers responded to the area of South Church Street and University Drive and located the vehicle parked at a business in the 3500 block of South Church Street, the station reported.
Police then observed a man matching the suspect’s description enter a store near the vehicle, according to ABC11 News. Officers identified him as Mitchell, and he was taken into custody on outstanding warrants obtained by the Fayetteville Police Department.
Charges Include Statutory Rape and Multiple Forcible Offense Counts
The warrants against Mitchell included a charge of felony statutory rape of a child along with four counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, per the same account. He was transported to the Alamance County Detention Center, where he remains held without bond.
North Carolina law, under G.S. 14-27.25(a), defines statutory rape as involving a victim 15 years of age or younger and a defendant at least six years older, according to state statutes maintained by ncleg.gov. That statutory language explains the nature of the charge cited in Mitchell’s warrants; it does not establish the specific facts or outcome of his case, which remain unaddressed in available reporting.
How the Camera Alert Triggered the Arrest
Burlington police said the arrest highlighted the value of automated license plate reader technology, coordinated response and proactive police work, the station reported. Under North Carolina’s statute governing the systems, captured plate data generally may not be preserved more than 90 days after capture. Data preserved under a request is subject to a separate one-year retention period from the initial request, reset by another timely request, according to state law. Separate legislative records reviewed by webservices.ncleg.gov reference agencies pursuing funding for the camera systems and installing them in state rights-of-way under a pilot program. An SBI report describes the pilot’s scope as fixed ALPRs in state rights-of-way, excluding ALPRs on municipal streets or private property.
No additional details about the underlying allegations, the identity of any alleged victim, or the status of the case beyond Mitchell’s arrest have been made public. Burlington police are asking anyone with information about the investigation to come forward, per WTVD. The Burlington Police Department can be reached at 336-229-3500, and tips can also be submitted anonymously to Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100.
