Man arrested for setting two fires

David Lynn Earp

On October 2, 2025, at approximately 7:59 AM, Alexander County 911 received a report of a fire at 610 Ruritan Park Road in Stony Point. Due to evidence suggesting the fire had been intentionally set, the Alexander County Fire Marshal requested the assistance of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to the scene to assist with the investigation, said Sheriff Chad Pennell.

Alexander County Fire Marshal Chris Hicks said the fire caused damage to the front porch of the building. Stony Point, Hiddenite, and Taylorsville fire departments were dispatched but the latter two were cancelled as the fire was quickly put out.

A second fire was discovered by the front door at a karate instruction facility nearby in Stony Point about 11:30 AM, after it had apparently burned itself out. That fire had been set with leaves and branches but caused no damage inside the building

As a result of the investigation, David Lynn Earp was arrested and taken into custody.

Earp, a 64-year-old white male from Stony Point, was charged with:
• Two counts of Felony Burning of an Unoccupied Commercial Building
• One count of Damage to Real Property
• Two counts of Second-Degree Trespassing
• One count of Simple Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance
• One count of Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia

Earp is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center under a $125,000 secured bond, with a first appearance in District Court on October 6, 2025.