Police say the 15-year-old crossed Highway 51 at night and sought help at a Millington restaurant after his mother drove away.
MILLINGTON, Tenn. — A 31-year-old Tennessee woman faces two misdemeanor charges after police say she left her 15-year-old son beside U.S. Highway 51 and took his phone as he tried to call 911 Sunday evening.
Angel Harris was arrested on charges of child neglect or endangerment and interference with emergency calls after officers responded to a 911 call from Patriot Box Sports Grill in Millington. The teenager told investigators that he had crossed the highway to reach the restaurant after his mother drove away, according to reports citing an affidavit of complaint.
The incident began while Harris and her son were traveling south on Highway 51 from Covington, according to the teenager’s account to police. He said they began arguing about the people he was associating with. During the dispute, Harris pulled over, the boy got out of the vehicle and she continued south, leaving him beside the road, according to the affidavit cited by Law&Crime.
Investigators said the incident happened at about 7:45 p.m. The teenager told officers that Harris took his phone while he was attempting to communicate with a 911 dispatcher. Police said the boy had no relatives, friends or other people in Millington whom he could contact for transportation.
With no phone available, the teenager crossed Highway 51 without using a crosswalk, according to the court account. Investigators described nighttime conditions and traffic on the roadway. The boy then entered Patriot Box Sports Grill and asked a stranger if he could use a phone to call 911. Millington police responded to the restaurant.
The teenager told officers he had not been physically injured but was emotionally distressed after being left near the highway, according to the affidavit. Action News 5 also reported that the boy crossed the highway and entered the restaurant seeking help. His name has not been publicly released because he is a minor.
Police checked for missing-person reports involving the teenager but did not find one, according to the court account. The boy told investigators that he normally stays with his grandmother. Officers contacted her, and she agreed to pick him up.
Investigators later spoke with Harris. According to the affidavit, police said she acknowledged leaving her son along the highway and not returning or contacting someone else to check on him. The record also attributes a dismissive statement about possible police action to Harris. The allegations have not been tested at trial.
Harris was taken into custody and booked into the Shelby County Jail. Law&Crime reported that she was later released on her own recognizance. The available reports do not indicate that she has entered a plea, and the charges remain allegations unless proven in court.
Harris is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 17. No additional charges or defendants connected to the incident had been publicly announced in the reports reviewed as of Thursday.
Author note: Last updated August 13, 2026.