48-year-old Ethel Elizabeth Payne of Park Avenue in Morganton was arrested last Friday (February 10) by Morganton Public Safety Officers. She’s charged with felony possession of schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) along with misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana up to one-half ounce, possession of drug paraphernalia, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Payne was arrested shortly before 1 a.m. Friday following a traffic stop on Spainhour Street at North Green Street. According to police reports, authorities seized one gram of methamphetamine and one gram of marijuana during the traffic stop.

Payne was transported to the Burke County Jail under a $5,000 secured bond. She is not listed as an inmate today (February 15). The next District Court date for Payne is scheduled for March 3 in Morganton.