52-year-old Ronald Ray Stroup of Kings Mill Road in Valdese was arrested by Burke County Sheriff’s Officers. He’s charged with felony counts of possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of a weapon of mass destruction. Stroup is also charged with misdemeanor counts of manufacturing liquor with no permit, possession of marijuana up to one-half ounce, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

Last Friday (March 10) deputies responded to a call where a passerby had been flagged down by Ronald Stroup advising he had been shot at and he was being chased. Deputies arrived on Messer Road and found Stroup and escorted him home.

At Stroup’s request, deputies checked his residence and in the process of performing a safety sweep of the home found firearms. Officers also found a barrel of an active manufacturing of non-taxed alcohol, which included raw materials and a fermentation barrel containing materials for brewing called mash. There were several holes in the wall consistent with the information Stroup gave officers stating he had discharged his firearm inside the home.

Deputies secured the scene, and a search warrant was issued for the residence. Two firearms were recovered, one being a shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches, along with ammunition, and a moonshine still. N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement was contacted and the still was seized. Stroup was arrested and charged and received a $30,000 secured bond. He is not listed as an inmate in Burke County. District Court dates are scheduled for April 3 and April 6.