A priority case came to a resolution Friday as a man charged with selling cocaine next door to a daycare center was arrested.

Donald Ray McCloud Jr., 42, of 1300 Van Norden St., Washington, was arrested after a series of controlled buys by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office drug unit investigators led to a search warrant executed at the Van Norden Street property, according to officials at the scene. The rental property’s backyard abuts Kids Kollege, a five-star rated daycare.

“A person involved in the distribution of controlled substances next to a daycare ranks as one of the highest priorities on our list,” said Capt. Russell Davenport, head of the drug unit. “We’d already taken out warrants on him (for selling) within 1,000 feet of a school, now he’s within inches of a daycare.”

The reasoning behind making investigation of drug dealers who sell close to schools and daycares a priority is because of additional crime that revolves around the drug trade, which could potentially put those children in danger, Davenport explained.

“Drug dealers get robbed all the time,” Davenport said. “People breaking into their houses to steal their products.”

When investigators went into the residence Friday afternoon, there was marijuana in plain view. In addition to McCloud, a seven-year-old child was in the home before law enforcement began searching the property.

“Searches are kind of lengthy because they have unique way of hiding drugs,” Davenport said. “We do a very thorough search — we’ll probably touch everything in the house and move it.”

McCloud was out on bond for a previous drug arrest when he was arrested again Friday. According to Davenport, McCloud has also been indicted with a habitual felon charge in Dare County, which means he can be sentenced under guidelines for a higher class of felony. McCloud was charged Friday with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school for a November 2013 controlled buy near Eastern Elementary School, possession with intent to sell cocaine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, one county of simple possession of marijuana and further charges are pending for selling cocaine within 1,000 feet of Kids Kollege. McCloud was held at the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $100,000 bond.