NEED TO KNOW
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A 10-year-old boy drove a car from an elementary school to his home after his mom went inside the school to drop off paperwork, authorities said
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The boy later told officers that he had gotten into a disagreement with his mom
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The sheriff’s office said, per The Tennessean, that it will not pursue charges against the child due to his age
A 10-year-old child drove home from elementary school following a fight with his mom, according to Tennessee authorities. After police arrived at their home to investigate, his dad ended up being taken into custody.
Officers responded to an emergency call from W.A. Wright Elementary School following a report of a child in a stolen vehicle on Friday, Nov. 14, the Mt. Juliet Police Department said in a news release.
At about 1 p.m. local time, his mother called 911, saying she left her 10-year-old child inside her running car in order to go inside and drop off some paperwork, but that when she returned, the car and the child were gone.
“A witness reported the vehicle backed out recklessly, nearly hit another car, jumped a curb, and sped off toward Lebanon Road,” police said.
Surveillance footage showed that no one had entered the vehicle, leading detectives to believe that the child took possession of the vehicle himself.
Moments later, officers found the car at the family’s home approximately a mile away from Wright Elementary, and parked inside an open garage.
Officers found the child with his father, who was apparently confused over why his son arrived home without his mother.
After talking with the boy, the child told police that he drove home after having a “disagreement” with his mom.
During an investigation at home, Mt. Juliet police learned that the boy’s father had an outstanding warrant for alleged “theft of property — wire fraud,” according to the department’s news release. He was taken into custody without incident.
None of the family members have been publicly identified.
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office assumed control of the investigation as the incident occurred on Wilson County School property, Mt. Juliet Police said.
PEOPLE reached out to the Mt. Juliet Police Department, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and Wilson County Schools for additional comment on Monday, Nov. 17.
“I’m incredibly thankful that the child was found safe and unharmed,” Mt. Juliet Police Chief Tyler Chandler said in a statement. “This incident is a clear example of the strong partnership we have with Wilson County Schools and SROs. That close collaboration ensures any incident at one of our area schools receives a rapid, coordinated response that prioritizes the safety and well-being of every child.”
In a message sent to Wright Elementary families, and later shared with The Tennessean, the school district emphasized the importance of vehicle safety.
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“Families, we do offer a friendly reminder to please be mindful of your vehicles when entering campus, and the occupants inside, especially when a vehicle has its engine running and parked,” the school district said. “The absolute safest practice for campus visits is to park your vehicle in a designated visitor parking space, turn off the vehicle, lock your doors and take any children that are with you inside the building.”
The sheriff’s office said, per The Tennessean, that it will not pursue charges against the child due to his age, but that they have made a referral to the Department of Children’s Services.
Read the original article on People
