Police: Two young children in car’s back seat during apparent Middletown drug deal

Police believe two young children were in the back seat of a Cadillac when the driver made an apparent hand-to-hand drug transaction Jan. 7 in the 400 block of Crawford Street.

Charles McKinney, 27, of Middletown, the driver of the car, made furtive movements when police pulled over the vehicle, according to the police report. Police saw several $20 bills folded and crumbled in the center console and could smell “a strong odor” of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to police.

McKinney refused to get out of the vehicle until he was told several times, police reported.

Two children, ages 4 and 5, were found in the back seat, and one of them was asleep. Their grandmother was called and she picked up the children, according to the report.

McKinney was charged with drug abuse/marijuana, loitering in aid of a drug offense, two counts of child endangering, two counts of child restraint and illumination of license plate light.

He pleaded guilty to child endangering and Judge James Sherron sentenced him to 180 days with 180 days suspended. He was placed on one-year probation. The rest of the charges were dropped by the prosecution, according to court records.

About the Author