Former Foxfire Police Chief Rick Rhyne was killed in the line of duty Thursday afternoon, December 8.
Rhyne, 58, has served as a deputy with the Moore County Sheriff's Office since 2007. According to a news release from Sheriff Lane Carter, Rhyne was shot while attempting to arrest Martin Abel Poynter on a child support warrant.
Responding to a report of trespassing at a home in Lobelia, Rhyne stopped two suspects. Checking to see whether there were outstanding warrants for either of the suspects, he was informed of an outstanding child support warrant for Poynter.
According to the Sheriff's Office, when Rhyne attempted to arrest Poynter, the suspect pulled out a pistol, shot Rhyne, and then shot himself. Poynter died at the scene.
Rhyne served as the Chief of Police for Foxfire Village for twenty six years and served for seven years before that with the Village of Pinehurst police force.
