Barricaded with Flames and Fury

October 23rd, 2023, Samantha Spurgeon woke to the smell of lighter fluid and threats of fire.

LCSD Sergeant Todd Webb, along with Deputies Samantha Clemens and Ben Moore were dispatched to 151 Justwood Lane for a report of a male subject pouring lighter fluid on another's belongings.

Upon arrival, the deputies spoke with Samantha Spurgeon, owner of the house, who stated that she was asleep and had woken up to the smell of lighter fluid. Spurgeon alleged that Michael Wayne Melton had poured lighter fluid over her belongings and was saying he was going to set it on fire. Spurgeon stated she tried to get out of the house, but Michael had put a wire coat hanger on the lock of the front door, and she could not get out of the house immediately.

Sergeant Webb and the two deputies went to the house to make contact with Melton and spoke with him through the window which had a mattress in front of it. They then tried to make entry into the house, but both the front and back door was barricaded. Sergeant Webb continued talking with Melton through the window and noticed he was breaking the sheetrock in the ceiling, putting a rope around the rafter, stating, "it's all over." At the point, Webb tried to make entry to the front door but was unable to.

Deputy Moore got a crow bar from his vehicle and was able to get the door open, so the three could enter. They went to the back hall to the room Melton was in, only to find it barricaded. Melton slid a phone under the door and stated he wanted them to listen to some voice recordings.

"Through the crack in the door, I could see flames and Melton pouring more lighter fluid around the room," said Webb. "So, I then began to force entry in to the bedroom of the barricaded door."

Moore was able to break the window on the front porch, but the mattress in front of it was engulfed in flames. The Sergeant and Deputies began using fire extinguishers to put out the fires around the house, when they heard Melton screaming from inside the house. Deputy Clemens went inside and pulled Melton outside to the front porch where Webb assisted in pulling him further into the yard. EMS arrived and treated Melton, transporting him to the helipad. The Fire Department arrived and extinguished the house fire, but the home was a total loss.

Melton was charged with Aggravated Arson, ESP Aggravated Kidnapping, Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon Involved x 3, and the case was given to the DA's Office for review and presented to the Grand Jury.