Report: Woman in labor drove van with 7 kids inside, some with tape over mouths
RAMSEY, Minn. – A man is in custody in a case involving a driver in labor, marijuana, a gun, and seven children – some with packing tape over their mouths - in the back of an allegedly stolen minivan, according to a report.
According to the Anoka County criminal complaint, Deszion Marquese Wraggs, 26, is charged with felony auto theft and child neglect after police pulled over the vehicle he was riding in because it was swerving. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that officers found the woman driving going in to labor. Wraggs was the passenger seat, and seven children ages nine and under were sleeping in the back.
Some of the children had packing tape over their mouths, but according to the complaint the children - all of whom are Wraggs’ - told police they were just playing with the tape.
Police smelled marijuana coming from the car and found a .40 caliber handgun under the minivan’s middle seat “located near the feet of several of the children.” Police also allegedly found a loaded handgun magazine on the floor below the driver’s seat.
According to the complaint Wraggs said the gun was his but that he did not have a permit to carry a firearm. The minivan was reported stolen out of Missouri and Wraggs told officers that he had rented the vehicle a month ago for “a few days” and was concerned that he didn’t have money left on the credit card that he used.
Ramsey Police Chief Jeff Katers told the newspaper that the children were examined, appeared fine, and released to relatives.
According to a statement from the Anoka County Attorney’s Office, Wraggs is being held on $50,000 conditional bail.
