RCSO: Drug buys lead to meth seizure at home outside Rockingham

ROCKINGHAM — Controlled buys recently led to the search and seizure of nearly 10 grams of methamphetamine at a local home.

According to a press release issued Aug. 13 by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, several controlled purchases of narcotics had been made from inside a residence on Calvert Street, off of Mill Road, southeast of Rockingham, during an investigation.

That led to the execution of a search warrant on Aug. 9, led by investigators with the community impact team, who were joined by patrol deputies and officers with the Rockingham Police Department.

The home’s occupants, 35-year-old James Quante Ratliff and 19-year-old Caelib Kanye Hubbard were taken into custody during the search, according to the release.

Investigators reportedly found 9.9 grams of meth and “evidence where some had just been dumped and flushed into a toilet,” as well as “numerous items” used to package and sell narcotics.

Vehicles outside were also searched and investigators reportedly found a handgun (of unspecified caliber) inside the vehicle Hubbard had arrived in.

Both Ratliff and Hubbard were arrested.

Hubbard is charged with one felony count of possession of a stolen firearm and was released on a written promise to appear in court.

Ratliff is facing charges related to the buys and the search: two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine; three counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; one count of altering, stealing or destroying criminal evidence; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ratliff was booked into the Richmond County Jail on a $175,000 secured bond, but it appears he has since been released.

Both are scheduled to appear in court Aug. 22.

Online court records show Ratliff has several pending traffic infractions including speeding, having an open container of alcohol and driving while license revoked.

Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Ratliff was convicted in 2016 of second-degree murder (accessory after the fact) and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.

Ratliff was released from prison in 2019 and his parole ended June 18, 2020.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.