ROCKINGHAM — Two men are facing drug charges after multiple agencies served a search warrant on Friday.
The Rockingham Police Department’s Vice/Narcotics Unit, Criminal Investigations Division and Tactical Response Unit — with help from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — executed a warrant at a Brooks Avenue home “in response to ongoing complaints of drug activity in the area,” according to a social media post.
One of the suspects, 48-year-old Derrick Montez Patterson, of the home, reportedly ran into a wooded area as officers approached but was apprehended.
Once inside the home, officers reportedly found a child under the age of 16. The Richmond County Department of Social Services was reportedly called to take the child into custody until family members could be reached.
According to RPD, K-9 Mick was deployed to search the home and surrounding property. The K-9 reportedly alerted to the presence of a firearm near “a closet obstructed by a detached door,” where police found a Hi-Point 9mm handgun with an extended magazine. Police say the gun was reported stolen in Pennsylvania.
During the search, police reportedly found and seized: three individually wrapped, different-sized bags of cocaine; four dosage units of Xanax in individually wrapped bags; and two different-sized bags of marijuana.
Investigators also reportedly found plastic bags, razors and digital scales they believe were used for the preparation and packaging of illegal narcotics, as well as $1,384 in cash.
Patterson is charged with one felony count each of: possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule IV controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession of a stolen firearm; and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Police also charged Patterson with one misdemeanor count each of child abuse, resisting a public officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Patterson was given a combined $25,000 secured bond. He did not appear in online jail records Friday afternoon.
Investigators also charged 43-year-old Corneilus Parnell Terry, of S. Long Drive in Rockingham, with possession with intent to sell or deliver (237 grams of) marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Terry was booked into the Richmond County Jail on a $2,500 secured bond. Records show Terry is also being held on a combined $12,856.46 cash bond on two child support charges.
Both Patterson and Terry are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 18.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Patterson was first convicted in 2010 of possession of a controlled substance.
Patterson was subsequently convicted in 2014 of possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance and possession with intent to sell a Schedule VI controlled substance, and in 2017 of simple assault.
Terry appears to have no prior convictions in the state.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
