Brownstown Police Say Girl, 9, Was Driving Van in Booster Seat
Dad Allegedly Had Daughter Drive Him to Citgo
BROWNSTOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJBK) - A recording features a man bragging that his nine-year-old daughter had driven him to a gas station because he was drunk. It was at the Citgo on Telegraph and West roads at 3:00 a.m. on October 8th.
The girl's driving was captured on a surveillance camera. A customer saw the girl behind-the-wheel and called 911.
"Just watched a van pull out of the Citgo gas station. A seven-year-old girl was driving it, and her dad is drunk and he's in the passenger," the man told the operator.
The owner of the gas station was disturbed when he saw the video.
"I was definitely very upset about it. I wasn't happy with the fact that someone would allow their daughter to be driving them around when they're under the influence," said Albert Abbas.
After the little girl left the gas station, a 911 call was placed and police were in pursuit. They stopped the girl on West Road.
"When he opened the door of the full-sized work van, he saw the nine-year-old girl sitting on the booster seat operating the vehicle and asked her how old she was. She said, 'nine,' and then she actually engaged the uniformed officer and asked him why he was pulling her over. That she was driving pretty good," said Brownstown Township Detective Lieutenant Robert Grant.
The father now faces charges for felony child abuse and being a habitual offender. He has several felony convictions.
This was not the first time the nine-year-old was behind-the-wheel.
"She explained to me that he did let her drive before, operate the vehicle, but on this night, she indicated that he was drinking whiskey and, for whatever reason, instead of the little girl being in bed at 3:00 a.m., he decided to go for a ride after drinking," Grant explained.
The child is now in her mother's custody.
Originally posted by RSGSRT
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