Rotterdam Police: Schenectady man mistakenly texted drug offer to detective

ROTTERDAM — A Schenectady man apparently got his phone numbers mixed up, and that got him arrested, police said.

Richard J. Betters Jr. is facing a charge of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, after he sent a text message of a drug offer to a Rotterdam police detective, police said.

The detective played along with the offer and arrested Betters, 44, of 626 Lansing St., on Tuesday at the Rotterdam Taco Bell, where Betters was found to be in possession of 20 Oxycodone pills, police said.

“It’s kind of an unusual one,” Rotterdam Police Lt. William Male said of the case.

Police believe Betters had the detective’s mobile number because of prior dealings the detective had with him.

Betters’ mugshot showed facial injuries that were present when police encountered him, Male said.

Betters was arraigned and ordered held on $20,000 bail.

Also Wednesday:

• Man charged with rape in Schenectady, Feb. 5, 2019
• State Police in region arrest 19 for DWI in Super Bowl weekend sweep, Feb. 5, 2019
• Woman faces welfare fraud count in Schenectady, Feb. 5, 2019

More from this week: Our top stories Feb. 2-8, 2019

Categories: News, Schenectady County