Bethea

Green

McBride

ROCKINGHAM —Three men were picked up on drug charges within four hours of the same day — all with the same arresting officer.

According to court documents, Ricky Bethea, Richard Ulysses Green and Garrie Kendrick McBride were all arrested between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 4.

Detective Steven R. Dunn of the Rockingham Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit was listed on warrants as the arresting officer.

Chief Billy Kelly said the arrests were a collaborative effort between RPD’s criminal detective division and drug unit along with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office drug unit.

Bethea, 54, of Boone Street, was arrested at 10:15 a.m. for allegedly having 6 grams — just more than two-tenths of an ounce — of marijuana.

At 1:40 p.m., Green, 44, of Crestway Drive was arrested, accused of having 56 grams — nearly 2 ounces — of marijuana.

Ten minutes later came the arrest of McBride, 25, of Aleo First Avenue, for allegedly having 21 grams of cocaine.

Bethea and Green were each charged with a felony count of possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and McBride was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.

All three also face a charge of maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance — Bethea and McBride for their homes, Green for a silver Volkswagen Jetta.

“I am glad they’re continuing to make these arrests and get these drugs off our streets,” Kelly said late Monday afternoon.

Green was released on a written promise to appear in court.

Bethea was jailed under a $5,000 secured bond, McBride under a $15,000 secured bond. They both made bail later that day.

Online court records show these are the only charges McBride and Green are currently facing.

Bethea was arrested by deputies in late December for allegedly selling .02 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant the previous month.

Records show Bethea is currently facing both misdemeanor and felony larceny charges, as well as other felony charges: two counts of probation violation; two counts of selling marijuana; two counts of delivering marijuana; possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana; selling cocaine; delivering cocaine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession of stolen goods or property; and conspiring to commit felony larceny.

According to the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction, Bethea was convicted on two felony counts of selling a Schedule VI controlled substance in 2013.

Bethea spent most of 2009 incarcerated, serving nearly 10 months behind bars on two consecutive sentences, each for two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, as well as a conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon.

McBride was convicted in 2012 on misdemeanor charges of breaking and entering and assault on a female in Montgomery County.

Green’s only convictions were driving-related misdemeanors in Scotland County: driving while license revoked in 2000; and driving while impaired in 2002.

Reach reporter William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_Toler.