A man wanted in connection with a Saturday morning fire at a motel on Gillespie Street has been arrested and charged with arson, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Michael Devon Dunham, 44, of St. Pauls, was arrested Sunday and charged with first-degree arson and burning of personal property, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release. Dunham is in the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $100,000 secure bond. His first appearance is scheduled for Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the detention center.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to the fire at the Royal Inn at 2640 Gillespie St. just after 4:30 a.m. Pearce’s Mill Fire Department also responded, and no injuries were reported, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The fire started on the bottom floor in room 112 and spread to the second floor.
The Sheriff’s Office said video footage showed a man going in and out of the room several times while it burned for 30 minutes before leaving.

“No attempts to extinguish the fire or notify anyone that the Royal Inn was on fire were made,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said in the release.
The Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Dunham.

Anyone who has information about this investigation is asked to contact arson investigator R. Tyndall at 910-677-5499 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

Cumberland Road, Cotton, Hope Mills, Grays Creek Station 18, Grays Creek Station 24 and Fayetteville Fire Departments Station 1, Station 5 and Station 16 also responded and provided mutual aid.