Missing Child Investigation Results in Drug Charges Against the Father

The father of a four month old, who took the infant with him to Nashville without telling the mother prompting a Middle Tennessee Endangered Child Alert last week, will be in court next week on drug charges.
Smithville Police Chief Richard Jennings says 32 year old Michael L. Edwards of 549 Frazier Street, Smithville is charged with simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers found five pills and a used hypodermic needle in his vehicle after he returned home with the child last Thursday evening.
Both Edwards and his wife, Penny Edwards reside with the child at the Frazier street residence.
Officer Bradley Tatrow, in his report, states that on Thursday, March 13th at about 4:00 p.m., Penny Edwards came to the Smithville Police Department to file a missing person’s report. Mrs. Edwards stated to Officer Travis Bryant that her husband, Michael Edwards, had taken the child, 4 month old Cori Alaina Edwards, on Wednesday, March 12th during the evening hours and she (mother) did not know where he took her.”
“The child’s name was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as endangered. Later that night (Thursday) while on a traffic stop at about 9:17 p.m., I was dispatched to 549 Frazier Street. I was advised that Mr. Edwards had just pulled into the driveway of his residence.”
Upon arrival, I made contact with the mother, Penny Edwards, who was holding the child. After establishing the safety of the child, I asked Mr. Edwards to step outside to talk to me to see what was going on. Mr. Edwards advised me that he had a spur of the moment feeling to go see some friends in Nashville and left with the child. Central dispatch advised me that TBI wanted to speak with me about Edwards’ activities in Nashville.”
Edwards apparently gave Officer Tatrow and a county deputy consent to search his vehicle and they found five pills in a white bag and a needle in the floor on the driver’s side.
Edwards was arrested and charged in the case. His bond totals $5,000 and he will be in General Sessions Court on the charges March 27th.
His activities in Nashville remain under investigation by the TBI.