DARLINGTON TWP., Pa. — A New Castle man forced an 8-year-old girl to drive him around, according to a criminal complaint.
Police said Kevin Michael Cook, 24, forced the child into the vehicle and had her start driving to East Palestine, Ohio before they were stopped by two bystanders.
Police said they received a call regarding a reckless driver on Little Beaver Road around 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 3. The caller told dispatchers there was a small child operating the vehicle, according to the complaint.
The child told police they left her grandmother, Brenda Spencer's, residence on Old Enon Unity Road and were attempting to head across state lines, police said.
Police then were advised the car was stopped on Little Beaver Road at Constitution Boulevard after almost wrecking at least two times, according to the complaint.
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Investigators said the 8-year-old said a man got out of his car at the intersection and yelled at her and Cook. Two bystanders stopped the car right around the time the 911 call was made.
The girl told police Cook then switched seats her and got into the driver's seat before police got there, according to the complaint.
Police said they tried to give Cook a sobriety test, but he couldn't finish it because he was so drunk. The officer even had to catch him to keep him from falling to the ground, police said.
Darlington Township Police Chief Al Filauri told Channel 11 the 8-year-old girl has no relation to the suspect. He said he is a family friend.
Cook is being charged with endangering the welfare of a child, driving under the influence and driving without a license.