LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The call of a one year old child in a parked van, supposedly in the care of a 33-year old woman was the start of problems for a Kentucky woman. A call came in to La Follette Police that the woman in the van was allegedly smoking marijuana. When LPD Officer Anthony Mahar arrived at the Food Lion parking lot, a woman and man, carrying the child, exited the van and was walking into the store.

The officer caught up with the woman, Mary Elizabeth Reynolds, as she came out of the store restroom, and he asked her to step outside with him. Reynolds said she did have some marijuana in the silver Nissan van, the La Follette Police Department report said.

LPD Officer Mallory Campbell searched the van and allegedly located some marijuana, illegal mushrooms and a grinder that had marijuana residue in it. Campbell found a six pack of empty beer bottles in the passenger floor and located a cap to the beer bottles on the parking lot outside the driver side door, according to the police report. Both Reynolds and the man said Reynolds was driving the van, and Reynolds admitted the van was hers.

Mahar said Reynolds performed poorly on a field sobriety test.

Mahar learned from dispatch Reynolds had an arrest warrant out of Grainger County for DUI charges and a failure to appear warrant from Bell County, Ky. Reynolds was arrested.

Reynolds, 33, 417 South 28th Street, Middlesboro, Ky, was charged with DUI (driving under the influence), possession of mushrooms, possession of schedule VI, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of the registration law, violation of the Tennessee financial law, child abuse and neglect or endangerment, a hold for Bell County (Kentucky), a hold for Grainger County and driver license law.

There is no bond for Reynolds who remains housed in the Campbell County Jail this morning. Her next court date is Thursday. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/24/2023-6AM)