As Mavelle Bynum sat handcuffed on the porch at 217 Monroe Street, his mother had a few words for him.

“What (do) you have on you?” His mother, Sharon Bynum, asked.

“Some green,” her 22-year-old son replied.

Mrs. Bynum wanted her son to come clean with the cops on who he is allegedly working for. “You might want to tell them whose (expletive deleted) that is. I know who you're doing it for. You better talk up.”

Mrs. Bynum said she thought it was a good that her son was being arrested, the first time, she said, he has been arrested for drugs. “He needs to stop. They need to take them all down.”

The evidence seized.

Some others watching the Roanoke Rapids Police Department take evidence to a patrol car and release one detainee who had nothing on him, told Mrs. Bynum her son was allegedly selling to provide for two babies.

Mrs. Bynum said she believes her son is influenced by acquaintances. “I think it's the streets and the people who talk to him all day. I hate to see him go to jail.”

Mr. Bynum's arrest this morning was not by chance, Roanoke Rapids police said this morning.

Captain Andy Jackson said the arrest for possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana was the result of three months of officer observation and citizen complaints.

Narcotics Agent Jamie Hardy said police seized several bags of marijuana packaged for sale as well as ammunition.

Hardy said weapons were seized from a shots fired call in the neighborhood Friday night — a shotgun and .45-caliber rifle. No one was hurt.

Jackson said this bust and one nearly two weeks ago are part of a continuing operation. “There are many more to come. Anyone selling drugs should pack their stuff up and move on.”