lipripr
05-17-2008, 06:44 AM
Drunk dad charged with letting 9-year-old son drive
Any cop will tell you it's not wise to get behind the wheel after having too many drinks at a party.
Looking for an alternative? Police suggest walking home, getting a cab or staying put.
But a Harrisburg man chose another option Saturday afternoon, authorities say, and not one they would recommend.
Rodney E. Logan, 39, of the 1300 block of State Street, handed the keys to his 9-year-old son about 3 p.m. and asked the boy to drive him home from the Fisher Plaza area, police said.
The boy was apparently excited about getting behind the wheel -- seven years before he's eligible for a driver's permit -- and his dad admitted being drunk and letting him go for it, police said.
Capitol police noticed the gray Honda swerving and, thinking it was a drunken driver, tried to pull it over on the State Street bridge. However, the boy kept driving and didn't put his foot on the brake until Linden and Walnut streets, police said.
Officers were shocked when they discovered that sitting in the driver's seat was a 9-year-old -- who was very adamant that he was 91/2, Sgt. Bob Rapak said.
"He wanted them to know he wasn't just 9," Rapak said.
Meanwhile, Logan was belligerent and uncooperative and was concerned about "relieving himself," Rapak said.
Harrisburg police, who arrived to assist, charged Logan with disorderly conduct and having an open alcohol container in the car. They said Logan was so combative, he tried to kick out the windows of a patrol car.
Capitol police charged Logan with reckless endangerment and child endangerment, both misdemeanors.
No one answered the door at Logan's home Tuesday, and his phone has been disconnected.
The boy, whose name was not disclosed because of his age, was released to other relatives, police said. Logan will be sent a summons through the mail, Rapak said.
No one was hurt in the incident, which police said could have turned out much worse.
"Let's face it, the potential for injury here was phenomenal," Capitol police Superintendent Richard S. Shaffer said.
Any cop will tell you it's not wise to get behind the wheel after having too many drinks at a party.
Looking for an alternative? Police suggest walking home, getting a cab or staying put.
But a Harrisburg man chose another option Saturday afternoon, authorities say, and not one they would recommend.
Rodney E. Logan, 39, of the 1300 block of State Street, handed the keys to his 9-year-old son about 3 p.m. and asked the boy to drive him home from the Fisher Plaza area, police said.
The boy was apparently excited about getting behind the wheel -- seven years before he's eligible for a driver's permit -- and his dad admitted being drunk and letting him go for it, police said.
Capitol police noticed the gray Honda swerving and, thinking it was a drunken driver, tried to pull it over on the State Street bridge. However, the boy kept driving and didn't put his foot on the brake until Linden and Walnut streets, police said.
Officers were shocked when they discovered that sitting in the driver's seat was a 9-year-old -- who was very adamant that he was 91/2, Sgt. Bob Rapak said.
"He wanted them to know he wasn't just 9," Rapak said.
Meanwhile, Logan was belligerent and uncooperative and was concerned about "relieving himself," Rapak said.
Harrisburg police, who arrived to assist, charged Logan with disorderly conduct and having an open alcohol container in the car. They said Logan was so combative, he tried to kick out the windows of a patrol car.
Capitol police charged Logan with reckless endangerment and child endangerment, both misdemeanors.
No one answered the door at Logan's home Tuesday, and his phone has been disconnected.
The boy, whose name was not disclosed because of his age, was released to other relatives, police said. Logan will be sent a summons through the mail, Rapak said.
No one was hurt in the incident, which police said could have turned out much worse.
"Let's face it, the potential for injury here was phenomenal," Capitol police Superintendent Richard S. Shaffer said.