Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Dad straps 4 kids to car hood and drives away, police say

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/09/11618158-dad-straps-4-kids-to-car-hood-and-drives-away-police-say#c65702838


Last week, two Florida grandparents were accused of using their SUV to tow their granddaughter down the street in her toy car after they had a few drinks.




This week, a dad in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been arrested after allegedly strapping four young children to the hood of his car after a liquor store stop.

The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reports that Aaron Stefanski told police: "I was only going to drive around the corner. I thought they would like it."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------













Stefanski, 29, was driving with his 6-year-old daughter and 4-year-old and 5-year-old sons, along with Jessica Clark and her 7-year-old daughter, when they stopped at a liquor store on Monday afternoon, according to the Journal Gazette.

The store manager and other bystanders called 911 and reported that Stefanski used a tow strap to tie the children onto the hood of a large white vehicle and then took off down the street. A U.S. marshal heard the dispatch and stopped the car about three blocks from the store. Fort Wayne officers arrived and arrested the driver, according to a police news release.

“With one of those straps you crank on a semi to hold down lumber, they were strapped with that thing, wiggling and wobbling down the street,” witness Tom Nowak old NBC station WISE of Fort Wayne.

Witnesses told WISE that after the car was pulled over, the woman tried to leave.

“Everyone said, ‘No! She watched it all, sat in the passenger seat and let it all happen. Take her too!’ So they called her back and handcuffed her,” Nowak told WISE.

Witness Keith Kennedy told WISE that after the arrests, the driver said, “It was only 20 feet.”

“I thought, come on, you know? Those kids' lives were at risk. If he would've turned and one of the kids would've fell, he would've run right over them,” Kennedy said.

The Journal Gazette said that according to a probable cause affidavit, Stefanski's blood alcohol level was 0.17 percent, more than twice the legal limit. He was charged with three felony counts of neglect of a dependent, felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated and four misdemeanor counts of criminal recklessness. Clark was arrested on a charge of felony neglect of a dependent.

Stefanski's children were later released to their mother, and Clark's daughter was placed with state child services, the police report said.
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
163305 tn?1333668571
After a few drinks ? Sheesh~ !
Helpful - 0
973741 tn?1342342773
Ha, 'dumb as stumps'.  That's a funny phrase . . . and oh so very accurate.  My favorite part is that this little ride was taking place after a trip to the liquor store.  

Kids count on their parents to decide when their dumb as stump choices are dangerous . . . not the other one around.  duh

I always say to my son "oh, not a safe choice"---  I guess the kids have to say that in that house.  Sad
Helpful - 0
377493 tn?1356502149
You know why this is so completely scary?  It doesn't sound like this was even intentional abuse or neglect, just sheer stupidity.  I bet incidents like this where mom/dad are just being dumb as stumps cause far more harm and injury, let alone death to children then those that are physcotic abusers.  Scary...people should have to pass a common sense test to have a child I think.  
Helpful - 0
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.

You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.