Parents are always worried about their children being in the street around moving cars. Parents are always worried about drunken drivers. Many parents also possess a distrust of the drivers of the trucks trying to sell ice cream in the street.
Whether or not their fears about ice cream purveyors is justified or not, here is a case of one man to keep your kids away from.
A man in Indianapolis, Indiana was driving an ice cream truck while under the influence as reported by www.wsbt.com.
Clarel Padgett was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, as well as operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .15 or more, both Class A misdemeanors.
Who caught the 58-year-old driver? A concerned parent who called police, reporting she could smell alcoholic beverages on the ice cream truck driver.
According to the probable cause, the officer could smell the odor of alcohol coming from the truck. The officer also noted Padgett had “bloodshot and glassy eyes and slurred his words when he spoke.”
Not only did Padgett fail a number of field sobriety tests, but then blew a .19 BAC, more than twice the legal limit. At the police station later he was given another breathalyzer test. Things only got worse as he blew a .24.
A female passenger in the truck was also arrested and charged with public intoxication.
Nice story, right? Folks, there is nothing funning about drinking and driving. The fact that he was driving to kids and all around them given even greater concern over his behavior. Hopefully he will get the help he needs with an alcohol class and counseling.