Steele City Man Arrested in Gage County on Drug Charge

During the course of a welfare check, the Beatrice Police Department arrested a Steele City man Sunday evening, May 25, 2025, for suspected drug possession.BPD responded to a report of a man allegedly slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle with a flat tire near Russ's Market in Beatrice, at approximately 7:09 p.m.The man in the vehicle was identified as Rory J. McGrory, age 61, formerly of Florida. When officers made contact, McGrory was on his telephone and indicated he was getting ready to fix the flat tire.According to the probable cause affidavit, “McGrory was very upset visibly and was yelling very loud the entire contact with him. He was moving around a lot and his pupils were very constricted.”The suspect denied officers permission to search his vehicle. Offers brought a K-9 unit, which indicated the possible presence of drugs. According to the officer tat filled out the affidavit, “I had probable cause to search the vehicle.”A search of the vehicle reportedly turned up, “cut red straws in the passenger side door.”Burnt residue inside the straws field tested positive for methamphetamine, per the affidavit.McGrory was arrested at the scene and taken to the Gage County Jail. Another Gage County Case PendingThis is not McGrory's first drug-related arrest in Beatrice.On February 5, 2025, officers with the Beatrice Police Department responded to a report of an assault. According to the officer that filled out the arrest affidavit, “While speaking with the reporting party outside of the residence, I recognized a maroon Chevrolet Monte Carlo parked outside of the residence to belong to Rory J. McGrory. I knew McGrory currently had an active Gage County Arrest Warrant.”The affidavit noted, “After being secured in handcuffs, a search of McGrory’s person yielded a prescription medication bottle containing a white, crystalline substance, and a digital scale. The white, crystalline substance field tested positive for the presumptive identification of methamphetamine, and yielded a weight of .8oz once separated from the container. A portion of the suspected methamphetamine contained within the bottle had been found to be packaged and sealed in a plastic baggie.”McGrory was charged with possession of 10 to 27 grams of methamphetamine, a class 1D felony punishable by three to 5 years in prison, and possession of a controlled substance, a class 4 felony punishable by up to two years in prison, one year of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine.This case is still pending in Gage County District Court. McGrory was free on a $7,500 (10 percent) bond at the time of his latest arrest. Jefferson County CaseMcGrory also had a criminal cases in Jefferson County Court.On October 16, 2024, McGrory pleaded guilty to criminal trespass, a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.On August 22, 2024, at approximately 2:01 p.m., deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff's office responded to a report of a possible burglary at a residence in Fairbury. According to the deputy that filled out the arrest affidavit, “I was then told the individual in question was Rory McGrory and had left the residence driving a maroon Monte Carlo. I was traveling on 14th St near the intersection of 14th and J St and observed a vehicle traveling eastbound on 14th St. I met the vehicle and identified the driver to be Rory McGrory. I already had my patrol vehicle's emergency lights on going to the residence and made a U-turn and got behind Rory's vehicle up by the intersection of 14th and K St. The vehicle stopped in the 1100 Block of 14th St.”The affidavit indicated McGrory claimed that he lived at that address but, in a telephone conversation, with the owner of the property stated, “Rory has not lived there for two to three months.”McGrory was arrested at the scene and was later released on a $2,500 (10 percent) bond. He was not charged with burglary.In accordance with the plea agreement, County Attorney Joseph Casson agreed to recommend a fine only.Judge Linda Bauer agreed and McGrory was fined $150. Criminal History in FloridaThe defendant has a significant criminal record in Florida, prior to residing in Nebraska. According to a report by the Associated Press in 2006, “His Florida record includes nearly 30 arrests since 1981, including burglary, aggravated battery and carrying a concealed weapon. In 1997, he was convicted of battery on a law enforcement officer.”That same year McGrory escaped from the Land O’Lakes Detention Center in Pascoe County, Florida. A story in the Tampa Bay Times of Florida indicates he was the first inmate to do so in five years. He was recaptured after two days on the run, eventually being located in an abandoned Winnebago in New Port Richey, Florida.

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