Worst Parent of the Week: Grandparents Tow Seven-Year-Old’s Hot Wheels Behind SUV with Her in It
What's more fun for a seven-year-old than joy riding behind Grandpa and Grandma's SUV with nothing between you and the wind but a bathing suit? Probably not much, until the police arrest them for driving under the influence and felony child cruelty.
After being pulled over by a sheriff's deputy in Sarasota, Florida on April 28, 47-year old grandmother Belinda Jean Berloni acknowledged that towing her grand daughter's Hot Wheels behind an SUV "was dangerous" but "they were just having fun and had been doing this all day." The plastic toy car was tethered to the back of the truck with a couple of dog leashes.
According to a Sarasota County sheriff's report published on thesmokinggun.com, Grandpa, Paul Berloni, 49, had less to say since his since his speech was reportedly "slowed and slurred with booze." The deputy noted a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming off his person." Berloni did admit to the arresting officer that he couldn't provide a license or registration as requested because they had been revoked for DUI ten years ago.
The police report stated the Berlonis "failed to provide adequate supervision for the child in a situation that could have easily resulted in great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or even death." Nor was Dad, Justin Oetting, who was called to the scene by the arresting officer, thrilled with the situation. "Are you f-----g stupid? You should know better," he reportedly yelled at Belinda Jean, his mother. Since Paul has been convicted at least three times before for drunk driving, perhaps dad should have also known better than to leave his daughter with him for the day.
The girl, thankfully, is unharmed. The grandparents are in jail awaiting a bond hearing.
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