WESTFIELD–A Westfield man and pregnant woman were arrested Tuesday morning on multiple charges, including heroin possession and child endangerment.
Tamara Kvarnstrom mug shot
Miles A. Burns, III, 31, and Tamara A. Kvarnstrom, 22, were stopped on Elm Street by Westfield Police after officers found probable cause related to accusations of theft from one of the suspect’s family members. They were in a vehicle in a parking lot of a business on Elm Street.
Burns was charged with larceny over $250, receiving stolen property over $250 and possession of heroin. Kvarnstrom, who police said is nine months pregnant, was charged with larceny over $250, possession of heroin and reckless endangerment to a child.
The reckless endangerment charge is a contentious one, since lawmakers and politicians in states across the country have pushed back and forth on altering the laws regarding child endangerment when a woman is pregnant and drugs are involved. Additionally, Tennessee became the first state to punish pregnant women with charges of “fetal assault.” The state just recently voted down the law.
Miles Burns, III, mug shot
Police said that Burns and Kvarnstrom are suspects in a rash of thefts that victimized Burns’ mother, who the couple lived with. Police were able to utilize pawn shop records that allegedly matched the items reported stolen from Burns’ mother. Police also said that the two suspects may have worked together on May 16, in order to steal $300 from the mother.
Police said that they found around 100 bags of heroin between the two suspects. Additionally, there was a border collie that was in the vehicle that the two were found in. Westfield Animal Control came to take the dog to the Westfield Animal Shelter, where it is still housed. Westfield Animal Control reported the dog safe and fed.
