Woman found asleep in stranger’s truck

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 28, 2016

Public Safety Reports

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

An employee of the LaGrange Animal Control at 1390 Orchard Hill Road returned from a trip out of town Tuesday around 6:45 p.m. — only to find an unwanted guest asleep inside his car.

The employee told LaGrange Police he discovered the woman as he was about to get into his vehicle. He also said he was familiar with the suspect, who has come into the animal control office before.

Officers said when they questioned the woman, she told them she was there to drop off her cat — and that she was waiting for someone to pick her up.

Police reviewed surveillance footage and saw the woman did arrive on the property in another vehicle and did drop off a cat.

But officers noticed she climbed inside a city of LaGrange pickup truck, also parked at animal control and rummaged around before approaching the employee’s truck and climbing inside.

The woman claimed she was told by her ride to wait inside that vehicle until he came back.

Officers said while they were reviewing the tape, the woman began to complain she could not “sit and listen anymore.”

Police realized she was talking about a dog barking in the background.

After questioning the woman more extensively, officers said the determined she was not there to commit a theft, but had an altered mental status.

She was charged with two count of criminal trespass and taken to the Troup County Jail.

Police said they have turned the case over to the Troup County Mental Health Court.

All information in this report is gathered from official law enforcement and public safety reports and releases. It is the policy of the Daily News to list the names of people charged with felonies.

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.