Mebane man accused of setting neighbor’s fence ablaze, smashing window, resisting deputies

What began as a late-night noise complaint escalated into arson, property damage and an arrest on the outskirts of Mebane. Deputies responded to 4130 NC 119 North after a neighbor called to report loud stereo speakers; they extinguished a burning temporary fence and later took a man into custody.

Court records identify the suspect as Jordan Ryan Litchfield, 36. The records indicate Litchfield allegedly set fire to the neighbor’s temporary fence after the neighbor called deputies about the loud speakers. Deputies arrived at about 11:00 p.m. and put out the blaze. The records also show that Litchfield damaged a neighbor’s window with a metal pole before refusing to open his door for officers.

After refusing to cooperate, deputies obtained a warrant, entered Litchfield’s home and arrested him. He faces a felony charge for burning personal property, two misdemeanors for injury to personal property and a charge of resisting a public officer. Bond was set at $6,000, per the sheriff’s office.

The incident, which occurred on January 15, highlights tensions that can arise from routine neighborhood disputes. Temporary fencing is often used in construction or to mark property boundaries, and its destruction can create both immediate safety hazards and ongoing neighborhood friction. For residents along the NC 119 corridor and nearby subdivisions, a late-night confrontation that produces fire and broken glass is disruptive and raises questions about how similar disputes are handled.

Local law enforcement responses to noise complaints are typically measured, but this episode shows how quickly situations can escalate. The involvement of a felony charge underscores the seriousness with which authorities treated the alleged arson. Damage to personal property, especially when it occurs after a call for help, can leave neighbors feeling vulnerable and wary of retaliation.

For residents, the case is a reminder to document disturbances and to contact law enforcement rather than confronting suspects directly. The sheriff’s office handled the emergency response and secured an arrest, and the matter now moves through the courts where prosecutors will decide how to proceed on the filed charges.

As the legal process unfolds, neighbors can expect follow-up from investigators and possibly additional community outreach from the sheriff’s office. The outcome of the case will speak to consequences for property destruction and resisting officers, and it may influence how future noise complaints are managed in this part of Alamance County.