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Fayetteville, Cumberland County

Fayetteville: Man held without bond after Burlington ALPR arrest on child sex warrants

Burlington police say Michael Dwayne Mitchell, 38, was arrested Wednesday morning on Fayetteville warrants for felony statutory rape of a child and four counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense. He is at the Alamance County Detention Center.

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Alexandru Stanciu · Published

The Market House on Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville

File photo: Epicjeff (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at about 9:38 a.m., the Burlington Police Department arrested Michael Dwayne Mitchell, 38, of Fayetteville, after an Automated License Plate Reader alert indicated a vehicle linked to him had entered Burlington.Confirmed by Burlington Police Department media release, Nov. 4, 2026, as posted by Alamance County Crime Stoppers; ABC11 and ABC45 (Nov. 4, 2026)
  • Officers responded to the area of South Church Street and University Drive, found the vehicle at a business in the 3500 block of South Church Street, and saw a man matching the wanted description enter a store. Officers identified him as Mitchell and took him into custody.Confirmed by Burlington Police Department media release, Nov. 4, 2026; ABC11 and ABC45 (Nov. 4, 2026)
  • The warrants were obtained by the Fayetteville Police Department and listed felony statutory rape of a child and four counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense.Confirmed by Burlington Police Department media release, Nov. 4, 2026; ABC11 and ABC45 (Nov. 4, 2026)
  • Mitchell was taken to the Alamance County Detention Center and is being held without bond.Confirmed by Burlington Police Department media release, Nov. 4, 2026; ABC11 and ABC45 (Nov. 4, 2026)
  • Anyone with information can call the Burlington Police Department at 336-229-3500, Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100, or use the P3 Tips app.Confirmed by Burlington Police Department media release, Nov. 4, 2026; ABC11 (Nov. 4–5, 2026)

Alleged or reported

  • Mitchell committed felony statutory rape of a child and four counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, as charged in the Fayetteville warrants.Outstanding Fayetteville Police Department warrants, as described in the Burlington Police Department media release and by ABC11 and ABC45 (Nov. 4, 2026). A charge is an accusation. Mitchell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court

Still unknown

  • When the Fayetteville warrants were issued and the ages or identities of any alleged victims
  • A next court date in Cumberland or Alamance County
  • Whether additional charges will be filed

What this means for you

Public safety
A charge is an accusation. Mitchell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This site is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Tips: Burlington Police at 336-229-3500 or Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100.

Instructions from Burlington Police Department media release, Nov. 4, 2026

This site is not the Burlington or Fayetteville police. For the case, use those departments or the Alamance County Detention Center. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

What happened

In Burlington, officers arrested a Fayetteville man Wednesday morning on outstanding warrants that include felony statutory rape of a child, according to a city police media release and independent reports from ABC11 and ABC45.

That release said that at about 9:38 a.m. Nov. 4, an Automated License Plate Reader alert showed a vehicle linked to the suspect had entered the city. Officers went near South Church Street and University Drive, found the car at a business in the 3500 block of that street, and saw a man matching the wanted description enter a store. They identified him as Michael Dwayne Mitchell, 38, of Fayetteville, and took him into custody.

The papers came from the Fayetteville Police Department and also listed four counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, the release and both stations reported. Mitchell was taken to the Alamance County Detention Center and is being held without bond. A charge is an accusation. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

This newsroom is not naming any alleged victim. Anyone with information can call Burlington police at 336-229-3500, Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100, or use the P3 Tips app.

This story is not an official or emergency notice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Related coverage

Why it matters

A Fayetteville man wanted on child sex warrants was arrested in Burlington after a license-plate alert. Neighbors need the charge list, the no-bond hold, and tip lines without naming any alleged victim.

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Updates

  1. Nov 4, 2026, 10:10 PM

    First file from the Burlington Police Department Nov. 4 media release (via Alamance County Crime Stoppers) plus independent ABC11 and ABC45 reports. Mitchell, 38, of Fayetteville, arrested about 9:38 a.m. Wednesday in Burlington on Fayetteville warrants; held without bond at the Alamance County Detention Center.

Sources

  1. BPD Media Release: Police Arrest Wanted Sex Offense Suspect (Burlington Police Department, Nov. 4, 2026, about 9:38 a.m.: ALPR alert; South Church Street and University Drive; vehicle in 3500 block of South Church Street; Michael Dwayne Mitchell, 38, of Fayetteville; Fayetteville Police Department warrants for felony statutory rape of a child and four counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense; Alamance County Detention Center, held without bond; tip lines 336-229-3500 and 336-229-7100 / P3 Tips. Posted on Alamance County Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week page. Text-only; no booking photos used.)

    Official sourcePublished by Burlington Police Department (via Alamance County Crime Stoppers) · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

  2. Fayetteville man wanted in child rape captured in Burlington (ABC11 / WTVD, Nov. 4–5, 2026: ALPR alert; officers watched a man enter a store; Mitchell identified and arrested shortly after 9:30 a.m.; same Fayetteville warrant charges; held without bond; tip lines. Text-only; no ABC11 or booking photos used.)

    Published by ABC11 · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

  3. Burlington police arrest wanted sex offense suspect after license plate reader alert (ABC45 / Jake Peterson, Nov. 4, 2026, about 4:56 p.m.: Burlington PD said about 9:38 a.m. ALPR alert; South Church Street and University Drive; 3500 block of South Church Street; Michael Dwayne Mitchell, 38, of Fayetteville; same warrant charges; Alamance County Detention Center, no bond. Text-only; no ABC45 or booking photos used.)

    Published by ABC45 · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 10:05 PM

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