Tennessee state troopers rescued 3 children locked in U-Haul truck.

 

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol fall branch trooper Owen Caudill had received a call from a concerned citizen that noticed small children in the back of a U-Haul box truck at the I-40 446 welcome center in Cocke County.

Trooper Caudill who was traveling in that direction where he was able to locate the U-Haul truck, and iniated a traffic stop.

Caudill questioned the driver Eric Larue, if there was occupants in the back of the U-Haul truck which the driver admitted to the trooper that there was.

The trooper found 3 small children in the back of the U-Haul truck ages 1, 5, and 8 where the outside temperature that day had reached 92 degrees.

The Department of Children's Services was contacted where a case was opened by DCS.

Trooper Caudill received backup from Sergeant Brian Lawson, along with Troopers Joshua Roberts and John Woods who arrived at the scene to assist.

A probable cause search was conducted after a strong odor of drugs was detected, and another occupant of the U-Haul produced a small bag of marijuana.

During the search troopers found crystal meth, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, in addition to the marijuana already produced.

The driver of the U-Haul truck, Eric Larue, 36, of Hendersonville, North Carolina was arrested on charges of child endangerment X3, no license law, lane law violation, seat belt violation, children not restrained violation and registration not carried.

Lakiza Williams, 40, of Hendersonville, North Carolina was arrested on charges of child endangerment x3, possession of schedule 2 X2 and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Willie Green Jr., 40, of Hendersonville, North Carolina was arrested on charges of child endangerment X3 and possession of schedule 6.

All 3 suspects were transported to the Cocke County jail.