Traffic stop leads to triple arrest

A traffic stop resulted in a triple arrest on Tuesday when a Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled a GMC Yukon over after a traffic violation.

Officers arrested the driver, Rachel Caroline Franklin, 30, of Morganton, and her two passengers — Theresa Elaine Bryant, 31, of Morganton, and Bradley Neil Holt, 36, of Connelly Springs — after calling in a NC Department of Adult Correction K-9 unit, which alerted authorities to the presence of illegal substances.

The probable cause search produced approximately 135 grams of methamphetamine as well as drug paraphernalia.

The Burke County Magistrate’s Office charged Franklin and Bryant with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. They both received $25,000 secured bonds respectively.

Holt received a felony trafficking methamphetamine charge and a $100,000 secured bond.

All three had an initial court date for Oct. 23, which has been continued to Nov. 13.

—JC