Two charged after smoking pot in car with child nearby

IOWA CITY - A man and a woman have been charged with child endangerment based on allegations they were smoking marijuana in a car with the woman's 5-year-old daughter.

Iowa City police arrested Chris W. Kelly Jr., 28, and Victoria L. McClain, 23, at 7:20 p.m. Thursday after responding to a suspicious car parked in the 2700 block of Muscatine Ave.

When the officer approached the car, McClain, who was in the driver's seat, threw a small marijuana cigarette out the window, police reported. Kelly attempted to spray air freshener as the officer came close to the car.

Police found a bag of marijuana on the front seat under an

armrest.

In the back seat was McClain's 5-year-old daughter, police reported. The girl is now in the custody of the Department of Human Services.

Kelly and McClain were both charged with child endangerment, no injury, an aggravated misdemeanor, and possession of marijuana. This was Kelly's third possession charge. McClain was also charged with preventing apprehension and permitting the use of controlled substances in her car.