Tribune staff reports

Officers responding to a report of a stranded motorist on Interstate 65 near Uniontown arrested a couple from Illinois on various criminal charges and turned their three children over to local child services staff members.

The driver of the disabled minivan, Laranis D. Wade, 37, of Rockford, Illinois, was arrested on a warrant for charges of domestic violence and strangulation.

His passenger, Amy N. Thijssen, 30, also of Rockford, Illinois, was arrested on Level 6 felony charges of violation of the Legend Drug Act and maintaining a common nuisance. She also faces Class A misdemeanor charges of possession of paraphernalia and trafficking with an inmate and a Class B misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana less than 30 grams.

Both were taken to the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown after the incident Sunday morning near the 40½-mile marker and remained there without bond Monday.

The arrests occurred after a search of Thijssen turned up marijuana and a marijuana grinder, according to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

The couple’s three children were in the van and were turned over to the Jackson County Department of Child Services, police said.

While being booked into the jail, Thijssen was found to be in possession of Tizanidine, a prescription muscle relaxant, which led to the trafficking charge, police said.

County Reserve Deputy Shane Collier arrested Wade, while Thijssen was arrested by Reserve Officer Scott Davis. County Officer Rob Henley assisted with the investigation.