Police: Intoxicated man lets young son drive him home

12-year-old crashed into a ditch, authorities say

A Des Allemands man, who police say was intoxicated, was arrested after allowing his 12-year-old son to drive him home, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office.

Joseph Anderson Jr., 31, of 117 East Louisiana Highway 631, was charged with driving while intoxicated, which was his second offense. He was also charged with resisting arrest by flight, resisting arrest by violence, battery on a police officer, resisting arrest by refusing to show ID, driving with an expired license and allowing an underage driver.

“Handing the keys to someone not old enough to drive will not prevent a person from getting a DWI,” Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said. “First of all, you should never drive while intoxicated, however it makes matters worse when you jeopardize the lives of innocent persons.”

After giving his son the keys, the 12-year-old ran into a ditch at 9:42 p.m. Thursday night on Lagarde Crossing Road in Des Allemands, LaGrange said.

“When officers arrived on the scene, it was obvious that (Anderson) had been drinking because the officers could smell the odor of alcohol on him,” LaGrange said.

LaGrange added that officers determined that it was difficult for the 12-year-old to reach the accelerator and break, which contributed to the accident.

“It was very obvious that the young man had no knowledge of how to operate a vehicle,” LaGrange said.