An alleged squatter was charged with trespassing after starting a wildfire while cooking a pork chop dinner in Tabor City.
Christopher Gore, 40, of 121 Spivey Rd., Tabor City, was placed under a $500 secured bond on a single charge of second degree trespassing, according to detention center records.
Tabor City Police reported that an officer was sent to 398 Stake Road to investigate a possible woods fire, and found a campsite where Gore was “grilling a pork chop.”
Gore said he had permission to be on the property, but the owner was deceased. The officer told Gore to put the fire out to avoid it spreading, and left the scene. The officer said in his report that he was unable to discover the owner of the property.
On Jan. 22, the officer was off duty when the actual owner of the property approached him at the Police Department about “a tent and several items” on the Stake Road property. He said he had not given anyone permission to camp on the land, and wanted the individual removed.
The officer went to the property four different times but could not located Gore, the report said, until the fire department was called to the camp for a woodsfire Jan. 27.
“It was determined that Gore was once again grilling pork chops in the wooded area,” the report said.
Police made contact with Gore at the scene, and the owner of the property told Gore via speakerphone that Gore was not allowed on the land. He was given until noon on Jan. 28 to vacate the premises, the report said.
When police returned the next day, Gore was found asleep in his tent. He was taken into custody without incident.
Copyright 2026 Columbuscountynews.com. All Rights Reserved.
