LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A 33-year old Tennessee elementary school employee was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment Sunday after officers allegedly found three children in her trunk.
A concerned citizen called La Vergne police Sunday evening to report a woman with children in the trunk of her car at the Speedway gas station on Murfreesboro Road.
When officers arrived, they found Andria James with three children, ages 9 and 10, in her vehicle’s trunk.
There were also six other children inside the vehicle, according to officials.
La Vergne police confirmed to News 2 that James told them she is a teacher.
The parents of the children were called to the scene to pick them up, according to police.
James was arrested and taken to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department where she was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment. She is due to appear in court on March 9, 2016 at 8 a.m.
James spoke with News 2 Monday, claiming that the children were never in the trunk and that she was removing them from an unsafe situation.
Joe Bass, a Metro Nashville Schools representative, told News 2 James is a part-time tutor at Alex Green Elementary and has been since September.
He said she will be placed on administrative leave as soon as district offices reopen Tuesday morning, as is standard procedure when an employee is arrested.
“Obviously, the acts she is accused of are completely inappropriate for an educator entrusted with caring for students, and we will take further disciplinary action if needed as more details come to light,” he said.