Polk County – A car sits in the middle of an intersection. As police pull up to find out what’s going on, the car drives off erratically down the street. Other cops join in the pursuit, eventually blocking in the vehicle. Not content to set there and see what happens, the driver of the car attempts to ram a couple police cruisers, and in an attempt to get away, begins driving toward an officer. The officer – fearful of his life – shoots at the car, missing the driver but putting an end to the car’s advances.
But the driver still won’t get out of the car. Police have to resort to breaking a window, only to learn that the driver is a twelve year old girl. And her passenger is a six year old.
The girl got the keys from an adult at home. She asked for them, and they were given to her. She drove around in a manner of what you might expect from a 12 year old. But because the windows were darkly tinted, the officers could not see the driver. Luckily, the shots fired at the little girl went over her head.
The family is baffled as to why the girl would do such a thing, but they are not baffled as to how to change the subject. And the media is only happy to oblige.
Typically, the family is outraged, and wants to know why shots were fired. Typically, the TV news stations played those sound bites. Typically, headlines say “Cop Shoots Kid” or some such. Sensational, indeed.
But I am outraged also, and have a couple questions: How is it that a twelve year old thinks she can drive? How is it that no adult could see this coming? Why did the family not know she would take the car? While we’re at it, why are the windows on the car so dark as to conceal someone’s identity?
Thankfully, the Sheriff filed charges against the child. But that’s not enough.
I’m tired of children getting into trouble, yet the grownups are not held responsible. Kids only know what they are taught, and if this child thought the right thing to do is a) drive a car, b) take her little brother, and c) run from the cops (I’ll assume she did not intend to run over the cop), then she has not been taught well.
In addition to charging the 12 year old, whoever gave the girl keys to a car should be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child. And the girl’s parents should be charged with abuse and child endangerment.
John
4 years ago
I agree whole heartidly on teh charges that you bring up Tommy… I may not like the idea of a little girl being shot at but what I don’t like that matters more is the fact a little girl was given the keys to a car unsupervised, and was able to drive around with a six year old as her passenger and almost hitting a cop.
Criminal neglect, endangerment of a juvenile… that’s just starters. Hell, having the kids taken away should also be a possibility.
Mrs. Happy Housewife
4 years ago
Call me crazy (or don’t) but what happened to parents admonishing and chastising their children instead of making excuses for them? I just shook my head when I read the article this morning.
tommy
4 years ago
This goes for the kids caught cheating in school recently, too. The parents defended the practice, suggesting the school was being too harsh…
Arrrgh!
John
4 years ago
Not good at being held accountable but good at laying the blame… That’s the trend with America from the top down
Seminole Heights
4 years ago
The neglect occured before this incident because how did this child learn to drive!!!
So what kind of mother is Sharon Bush? According to the PCSO Website and Hills Clerk of Circuit Court there is a Sharon Bush with multiple arrests for theft and violence and some drug charges over since 1991. Don’t know if it is the correct Sharon Bush.
kate
4 years ago
I agree and as a teacher, this is all so frustrating and familiar. Behavior is learned. As soon as we start holding parents accountable, our schools and world will be a much better place.
Brett
4 years ago
I’d suggest DCF take a good look at the family, but since that agency is such an absolute failure I’m not sure it would do anyone any good.
When in doubt, blame everyone else. It works every time!
Robert
4 years ago
The deputies who participated in the arrest showed great restraint considering the circumstances. The kid rammed two PCSO cruisers and tried to run down a deputy. Unable to see inside the vehicle because of the tinting, the deputies had no idea if there were an adult inside with a gun ready to do battle or what else was possible.
BTW: Her mother arrived to the hearing late, saying she had trouble getting transportation to the courthouse in Bartow. Hey, the Citrus Connection runs a bus hourly between Lakeland and Bartow from about 6:30 AM and 5:30 PM. Only 75 cents each way!
Robert
4 years ago
Just checked the Polk and Hillsborough jail records online — and most feature mug shots — and there are a number of arrests as Seminole Heights noted, mainly for battery with one previous arrest for posession of a controlled substance. Also a couple of contempt charges for failing to pay child support.
The mug shots and the picture in today’s Ledger story are quite similar. Apparantly the kid is following into a family tradition.