SALISBURY — A Concord woman was charged with trafficking fentanyl after police stopped her for driving approximately 115 mph on the interstate.

The incident began at approximately 9:35 p.m. on Tuesday night, when a deputy noticed a white Nissan Altima driving recklessly on the northbound side of Interstate 85, a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said. The deputy also reportedly clocked the Altima at 115 mph.

The deputy stopped the vehicle on the Julian Road exit ramp. When the driver reached into the glovebox to grab her license and registration, the deputy noticed that the compartment also contained a “large amount” of cash, the spokesperson said. When he ran the driver’s license, the deputy reportedly found that it had expired. While writing the citation he called for a K9 unit to assist, which positively alerted to the presence of narcotics, according to the spokesperson.

The woman allegedly informed the deputy that she had a firearm in the center console of the car and that there was fentanyl stored in the pocket of the driver’s side door. During a search of the vehicle, a .40 caliber handgun and 6.21 grams of fentanyl stored in a makeshift plastic container were found.

The driver, identified as 27-year-old Valerie Alexis Franklin, was arrested and charged with trafficking heroin or opium by possession, trafficking heroin or opium by transportation, carrying a concealed gun, speeding and driving while her license was revoked. Franklin was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $500,000 bond, according to jail records.

In Salisbury Police Department reports:

• A hit and run causing property damage occurred in the 1200 block of Celebration Drive at 12:14 a.m. on March 6.
• A theft of a motor vehicle occurred in the 1200 block of Celebration Drive at 12:05 a.m. on March 6.
• Shoplifting occurred in the 300 block of Arlington Street at 10:10 p.m. on March 6. The total estimated loss was $78.
• Bobby Eugene Patterson, 53, was charged with second-degree trespassing on March 6.
• Randi Corrine Davis, 34, was charged with larceny on March 6.

In Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reports:

• Fraud by false pretenses occurred at Springway Lane between 10:02 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 5.
• Fraud by identity theft occurred at Jane Road between noon on Jan. 5 and noon on Feb. 24. It was reported on March 5.
• Harassment occurred at White Avenue between 2:23 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2023 and 10 a.m. on March 5.
• Credit card fraud occurred at Beaver Road between 6:25 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 5:25 p.m. on March 5.
• Karen Lyne Shearer, 57, was charged with first-degree trespassing on March 5.
• Christopher Lee Bowens, 35, was charged with first-degree trespassing on March 5. Both Shearer and Bowens were charged after returning to a home that they had been evicted from, according to police reports.
• Crawford T. Tucker, 72, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on March 5.