By Jim Beller

SURGOINSVILLE — Two Hawkins County couples have been arrested and charged with child neglect after police say they found them sleeping while the pre-school children of one couple were discovered wandering in the street.
County Deputy Scott Stewart stated that at around 10:39 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, “I found two small children walking in the middle of Lauren Drive.”
Lauren Drive is located in Stewart Landings near Hawkins County Airport in Surgoinsville.
“Approximately 30 minutes later, I found the parents asleep at 370 Lauren Drive,” Stewart reported.
Identified in the home sleeping were resident Ashley Morgan Flaherty, 21, Trenton Wayne Flaherty, 23, 880 East Carters Valley Road, Gate City, and parents Rachel Stoner Mullins, 27, and Christopher Matthew Mullins, 35, both of 718 Phillips Town Road, Bulls Gap.
“All the adults advised they had been asleep when the children wandered from the home,” Stewart said. “I did contact DCS (Department of Children’s Services) hotline and made a referral at this time.”
The children, ages 3 and almost 2, respectively, were placed in custody of family members.
“Witnesses to this incident were Cpl. Mike Allen who later arrived and Deputy Wade Paschal, who lives nearby and saw the children walking,” Stewart said.  
Both couples are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court Aug. 25.