Two Siblings Pulled Over in Stolen Car, 10-Year-Old Found Behind the Wheel
Alachua County, Florida – Two siblings who stole their mother’s car were pulled over in Florida’s Alachua County on Thursday. Authorities were surprised to discover a 10-year-old behind the wheel of the stolen vehicle.
The incident occurred on Interstate 75 in the city of Alachua, where officers from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office conducted a “high-risk traffic stop” after receiving reports of a stolen white sedan. The vehicle had been reported stolen from North Port, a city over 200 miles away.
When the vehicle was stopped, deputies were shocked to see a 10-year-old boy exit the driver’s seat and his 11-year-old sister exit the car. Further investigation revealed that the siblings were also reported missing in North Port, and the stolen vehicle belonged to their mother.
According to the sheriff’s office, the incident was sparked by the children’s anger towards their mother for taking away their electronic devices due to their inappropriate usage. However, after speaking with the children, deputies determined that they were not mistreated in their home.
The mother, who drove three hours to pick up her children, did not want to pursue criminal charges in the case. As a result, the children were not jailed, and the only “crime” in this situation was a misdemeanor criminal traffic violation.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office stated that since the mother did not want to press charges over the stolen vehicle, the juvenile will not be accepted into the Department of Juvenile Justice. The sheriff’s office also emphasized that no mistreatment was found within the children’s home.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of properly handling disciplinary actions with children and the potential consequences of their misguided actions.