Thursday, January 9, 2014
Child Neglect Charge Stems From Public Nuisance Call
A local woman is facing charges of child neglect after law enforcement officers were called to a local business to confront what was believed to be an intoxicated customer.
Officers with the Lawrenceburg Police Department answered the call to the North Locust Avenue store on Friday. They said it appeared that she was suffering from methamphetamine withdrawal.
Reports show that while speaking with officers the woman said that her daughter had been with her, but she did not know where she was at that moment. The youngster was located a short distance away.
Officers placed thirty-one year old Amber Courtney Springer, of Lawrenceburg, under arrest on charges of child neglect.
Once arrested, officers report that the woman admitted that she had smoked meth outside her home the previous day while her children were present.
Reports indicate that a drug test revealed that she was under the influence of a number of drugs, including methamphetamine.
Officials with the Department of Children’s Services responded to take custody of the child. She was later released into the custody of a relative.
A second arrest also resulted from the incident. Reports show that the man accompanying Springer, John Thomas Shults, 39, of Summertown was questioned, as well. When asked he admitted having illegal contraband inside his vehicle.
Officers report conducting a search of Shults’ vehicle. They seized into evidence several items including marijuana, meth, some pills and various items of drug paraphernalia.
Once Shults had been arrested on narcotics charges both he and Springer were transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center for processing. Both will be required to appear in General Sessions Court on February 6, 2014.
