Woman arrested on credit card fraud charges after flagging down Tuscaloosa deputies

TUSCALOOSA, Al.
 A woman who flagged down deputies Wednesday morning near the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office to track down a supposedly stolen vehicle was arrested for credit card fraud and identity theft.

Teresa Cunningham Averette, 47, told deputies about a possibly stolen Toyota 4Runner after contacting them at 8th Street and Lurleen Wallace Blvd North, Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Andy Norris said in a news release.

Deputies located the vehicle and its owner, Richard Morgan Shirley, 51, who was found with prescription drugs that were not his, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Norris said.

"The vehicle was found to be not stolen but the object of a civil dispute," Norris said.

During the investigation, Averette was found to be wanted by the Sheriff's Office for two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and identity theft. Her daughter, Bambi Tiffany Nicole Averette-Dunn, 28, was arrested for unlawful possession of prescription drugs.

All three were transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Averette was charged with two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and identity theft. She was released on $45,000 bond.

Averette-Dunn was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She was released on $10,000 bond.

Shirley was charged with unlawful possession of prescription drugs, first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail. His bond was set at $17,500.