36-year-old Kyle Blackburn Brown of Carbon City Road and 29-year-old Chelsie Leanne Laws of N.C. 18 South, both from Morganton, were arrested Tuesday (January 31) by Morganton Public Safety Officers. Both suspects are charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor larceny by trick. Brown is additionally charged with felony larceny by destroying antitheft device.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Public Safety Officer was dispatched to a business on Morganton Heights Boulevard in reference to a shoplifting report. The officer found the suspect vehicle, which had been described by the individual who contacted police. The officer initiated a traffic stop during which the driver, Kyle Brown, and the passenger, Chelsie Laws, reportedly admitted to stealing clothing from the business.

Police reports say that drug paraphernalia was seen in plain view resulting in a search of the vehicle. That search reportedly resulted in the discovery of items including methamphetamine and clear plastic baggies. Police report the seizure of four grams of meth in this case.

Both suspects were brought to the Burke County Jail, Brown under $11,000 secured bond, Laws under $10,500 secured bond. Brown is not listed as an inmate in Burke County, Laws remained in jail as of earlier today (February 1). Both suspects have District Court dates Thursday (February 2).