Three children pulled from filthy car after alleged drug deal outside Lincoln gas station

Published: Mar. 2, 2026 at 5:47 PM CST

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Three children were pulled from a filthy car after an alleged drug deal outside of a Lincoln gas station on Friday.

Lincoln police said an officer was patrolling the area of 13th and E streets in an unmarked police vehicle when they observed a suspected drug transaction between Blake Fenn, 31, and another individual at a nearby Casey’s gas station. Fenn left the parking lot and was followed by police.

LPD witnessed Fenn make an improper turn and stopped him near 11th and O streets. According to police, Kelsey Speake-Smith, 29, was in the driver’s seat and Fenn was in the passenger’s seat along with a 3-year-old child, a 1-year-old child and a 6-month-old infant in the backseat.

Blake Fenn, Kelsey Speake-Smith mugshots
Blake Fenn, Kelsey Speake-Smith mugshots(Lancaster County Jail)

LPD said the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During a probable cause search, investigators found .1 gram of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, court documents show.

According to an arrest affidavit, the vehicle was incredibly dirty and cluttered, had a foul odor and the children were covered in urine and feces.

Court records show that both Speake-Smith and Fenn had reportedly conducted narcotics transactions in the past with the children present in the vehicle.

Speake-Smith and Fenn were arrested and charged with intentional child abuse resulting in no injury. Fenn received an additional charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Fenn’s bond is set at 10% of $15,000, and Speake-Smith’s bond is set at 10% of $10,000. Both have a hearing scheduled for March 31.

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