By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — A China Grove woman led deputies on a high-speed chase through Rowan County after she was found passed out behind the wheel of a stolen car, authorities said.

Brandi Lavone Starnes, 32, of the 2500 block of Cannon Farm Road, was charged with felony possession of a stolen vehicle, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, felony fleeing to elude arrest, misdemeanor reckless driving and misdemeanor driving while license revoked.

On Monday, a deputy was sent to Cannon Farm Road near Knight Farm Road just after 7 a.m. to investigate a report of a woman who was in a parked red Honda and appeared to be asleep or unconscious behind the wheel.

Someone called 911 to report a suspicious vehicle parked in the middle of the road. According to a report, the driver wa identified as Starnes. When she noticed a deputy approaching her vehicle, she drove away. The officer turned on his lights and siren in an attempt to stop her, but she continued driving, a Sheriff’s Office report said.

Officials said Starnes continued onto Enochville Avenue toward Deal Road traveling 70 mph. She ran a stop sign and continued to U.S. 52 traveling at 80 mph. She turned onto Flat Rock Road and approached an intersection at Mount Moriah Church Road. She then veered onto N.C. 153 and N.C. 152 westbound.

The report said Starnes pulled the car into Atwell Fire Department, crashed into a white truck and kept driving. A deputy set up stop sticks at N.C. 152 near Saw Road, but they were unsuccessful. Starnes continued onto N.C. 152 to N.C. 153 reaching speeds of 90 mph.

She turned back onto Mount Moriah Church Road and then onto Main Street toward downtown China Grove, passing vehicles in a no-passing zone at a speed of 80 mph, the report said.

She approached Church Street and turned back onto N.C. 152. A deputy continued to chase her vehicle on Miller Road at speeds up to 100 mph. Another deputy deployed stop sticks at Grace Church and Miller roads, and Starnes ran off the road into a yard in order to go around the sticks. She approached Mooresville Road, ran through a stop sign, and passed vehicles in a no-passing zone.

She turned into the Food Lion parking lot and then sped into the drive-through at Biscuitville the wrong way at 50 mph. She then got back onto Mooresville Road and turned onto Sherrills Ford Road traveling at 100 mph.

She continued onto Barringer Road toward Statesville Boulevard and ran through a red light. She turned onto Wilton Lane and came to a stop at a dead end.

Deputies removed Starnes from the 1991 Honda and searched her and the vehicle. Officers said they knew Starnes from previous encounters. They found a black digital scale with white powder residue on it, according to a report.

The Kannapolis Police Department had reported the vehicle stolen.

Starnes had outstanding arrest warrants in Kannapolis. She faces chargesof felony obtaining property by false pretenses, first-degree burglary, felony financial card theft, and felony larceny.

Starnes remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.