Pair found with drugs, gun, child in stolen car
A man and woman were arrested on child endangerment and other charges Monday after they were found driving a stolen vehicle containing an autistic child, drugs and a stolen firearm, authorities said.
Brittany Ware, 29, and Shane Keller, 28, were seen leaving a hotel room on Bonny Oaks Drive in a black Ford Fusion around 4:30 p.m., a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper wrote in an arrest report.
A license plate check revealed the car had been stolen in Chattanooga, so the trooper stopped the car.
Upon closer inspection of the car, a firearm was seen in plain view on the floor in front of Keller, who was in the passenger seat. Authorities also found multiple needles — some used and others “loaded” with drugs — along with a set of digital scales with some of Ware’s belongings.
In the back seat of the car was a 10-yearold autistic boy, who was turned over to his school teacher at the scene after the arrests.
A search of the hotel room the child had been seen leaving yielded more drugs and paraphernalia.
Keller is facing a firearms charge and counts of theft of property, manufacture/delivery/sale of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated child endangerment and tampering with evidence.
Jail staff said Tuesday afternoon he had made a $74,500 bond.
Ware had not yet made her $40,000 bond for use of stolen license plates, theft of property over $1,000, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated child abuse or neglect.