Thursday, June 30, 2016
Toddler injured when mom jumps with him from moving truck; driver is arrested
Lawrenceburg Now
A toddler sustained minor injuries last week after his mother jumped with him from a moving truck to escape from the driver, who had allegedly stolen the vehicle.
Reports filed through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department show that the owner of a tractor trailer truck requested assistance at around 11:00 Thursday, informing authorities that his truck had been stolen and he was pursuing the driver along Iron City Road, heading toward Saint Joseph.
The incident spanned an area of Southern Lawrence County and Northern Lauderdale County, Alabama. The owner informed authorities that the driver “was on something and stating he wanted someone to take him out.”
By the time local authorities met with owner Greg Floyd he indicated that he had located the truck and picked up the driver. After they started driving, however, he said that the man jumped out of the vehicle on County Road 130 and began to walk away. He told deputies that the man was wearing black swim trunks and was covered in tattoos. He also informed deputies that the man “had dumped a female and an infant out of the truck somewhere along the way.” The truck owner said that he was unfamiliar with the area and was not able to tell them exactly where they were.
Deputies located the man, later identified as thirty-seven year old Charles Fredrick Staggs, listed as homeless, of Lawrenceburg, in the Gist Town area. He was found to be in possession of a prescription medication bottle that did not belong to him, that contained six pills. He told deputies that he had “been with the owner” and was “just holding them for her.” He was arrested on charges of possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, theft over $10,000, and being a fugitive from justice, and was subsequently transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center for processing.
The stolen 1997 Kenworth truck and lowboy trailer, with a combined value of $20,000, were located on a dead end road in the Greenhill area, off of County Road 130.
The woman, identified as twenty-four year old Kayla Elaine Russell, who is homeless, was located in the vicinity of 488 Iron City Road. She and her two year old son were transported to the detention center, as well. Reports show that the boy had sustained minor injuries “from having fallen down when Kayla did jump from the moving truck.”
Russell told deputies that she had gotten into the truck with Staggs because “she did not know what to do and was afraid.” She allegedly admitted that she had been using drugs and staying “in places that are known to law enforcement for having drugs.”
The Department of Children’s Services was notified and worked with Russell to create a safety plan for her son. She submitted to a drug screening and, due to her “being homeless and not having anything for the child,” custody of the boy was relinquished to another party.
Reports show that Russell did test positive for methamphetamine and THC. Deputies report that Russell did not garner charges at that time, “but was advised she may be charged at a later date.”
