Sun-News Reports

Las Cruces Sun-News

LAS CRUCES — A motorist suspected of carrying a loaded handgun in his toddler's car seat has been charged with child abuse, police said.

Thomas Adrian Brown, 22, of the 1800 block of Sexton Street, was charged with one count of child abuse, a third-degree felony, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, a fourth-degree felony, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.

The charges stemmed from an incident on Wednesday, police said.

An officer had pulled over a 2001 Oldsmobile for failing to maintain traffic lanes. But before the vehicle came to a stop, police said, the officer observed the driver moving around in his seat and ducking down several times.

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The vehicle came to a stop near Lohman Avenue and Nacho Drive. The officer alleged that the driver, identified as Brown, did not have a valid driver’s license, insurance or registration for the vehicle.

Brown was asked to exit the vehicle and was allowed to call for a ride since the vehicle was going to be towed. As a relative removed Brown’s 21-month-old son from his car seat, a fully loaded 9-mm handgun fell from the infant’s seat.

Investigators determined that the handgun did not belong to the relative and was likely placed in the child’s car seat prior to the traffic stop.

A criminal history of Brown was obtained and investigators learned that was convicted of a felony in 2015. In New Mexico, it is illegal to receive, transport or possess a firearm for 10 years after a felony conviction.

Brown was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he was initially held without bond.