Late Sunday night, Crossville police conducted a traffic stop along  U.S. Highway 127 for a truck following another vehicle too closely, driving 30 mph in a 45-mph zone, with no other traffic preventing the truck from passing.

One passenger in the truck, 40-year-old Andrew Paul Pendergrass of Crossville, had an outstanding warrant in Cumberland County for violation of probation.

A female passenger identified herself as April Tatum – and emphasized that was her legal name. A check through dispatch revealed her to be 36-year-old April Ann Killinger of Clarkrange. When asked to exit the vehicle, Killinger became argumentative. When she did exit the vehicle, officers noticed a large knife on her person. She also had several shotgun shells in her pockets, as well as short plastic straws. Officers recovered a shotgun on the floorboard of the truck with five rounds in the butt stock shell holder, and another loose round on the floorboard.

The arrest report notes Killinger was dressed suspiciously, in all dark clothing, with black makeup surrounding her eye area. A dispatch check revealed she was wanted in Ohio for child neglect, for which they intended to extradite. Killinger was found to be convicted of felonious assault. A further search turned up three pills, one of which was identified as Gabapentin. A clear glass pipe with burnt drug residue and a silicone marijuana pipe were located in her purse. Officers also found in the vehicle a white skull mask and a machete. Killinger said she had handled the shotgun and her fingerprints would be on it.

The driver provided a written statement that he had picked up Pendergrass and Killinger hitchhiking in Morgan County, the shotgun belonged to Killinger, and they were going to McDonald’s in Crossville.

Pendergrass also said the weapon belonged to Killinger.

Killinger later admitted she took the gun from a home in Morgan County to take with her to Fentress County for a friend.

Killinger was charged with a warrant of arrest from another state, felon in possession of a firearm, criminal impersonation, unlawful possession of a weapon, armed and dangerous felonies, criminal attempt robbery, simple possession of a Schedule V drug, simple possession of a legend drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pendergrass was served with the violation of probation warrant.

The driver was given a written warning for following too closely.