Florida

Couple Arrested Near Sarasota After Being Found Asleep in Car with Kids, Drugs Inside

Authorities say a man and woman face drug and child neglect charges after they fell asleep in their car in the middle of an intersection with a 2-year-old child in the back seat.

Local news outlets report the incident happened at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday in Venice on Florida's Gulf Coast.

An arrest report says a Sarasota County Sheriff's deputy found the Cadillac running with the couple sleeping inside. When 36-year-old driver Matthew McRee woke up, he told deputies he had just been released from the Manatee County Jail and was heading home. His passenger was 30-year-old Christina Mattessino.

Deputies found two syringes under Mattessino's bag, along with heroin and marijuana.

Jail records don't indicate whether they hired a lawyer. Family members took custody of the child.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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