Intoxicated Man Puts 11-Year-Old Nephew Behind The Wheel

It’s not even holiday season yet and 29-year-old Genaro Lopez already pulled a crazy drunk uncle stunt last Sunday. He made his 11-year-old nephew drive his car so he could avoid being arrested for driving under the influence, according to the police.

CBS Los Angeles reported that Lopez was getting carelessly day drunk before getting arrested around 3 P.M. on October 22nd. A police officer in Port Hueneme, California, spotted a young boy driving Lopez’s car heading northbound on Surfside Drive.

When the unidentified officer pulled the car over, police say that Lopez was sitting in the passenger seat with his eyes completely irritated. He reeked of alcohol and even had an open container of liquor, displaying every sign of intoxication you can imagine.

It wasn’t like Lopez was being discreet about his alcoholism, either. During his little joy ride into ridicule, police say dispatchers received calls from drivers and other witnesses about a pre-pubescent boy driving a busted looking Honda Civic with a sketchy male front passenger sludged in his seat while drinking alcohol.

The boy, who wasn’t identified by CBS, actually tried to play along and help his uncle by telling officers that he was driving because Lopez was teaching him how to. However, it’s really easy, especially for trained police officers, to see through the lies of an 11-year-old.

Eventually, the boy admitted that he took over chauffeur duties because Genaro Lopez was “too drunk to drive,” police claim. When Lopez stepped out of the vehicle, police found an imitation firearm between the passenger seat and the door.

He was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody by the police. While checking his record, it was revealed that Lopez had a warrant for driving without a license. It was unclear whether or not he was carrying a license at the time of this arrest.

Not only was Lopez drunk, but police say that they also found out that Genaro had consumed methamphetamine a few hours before the traffic stop. His 11-year-old nephew, who was subsequently released into his mother’s custody, was under Genaro’s supervision.

Lopez, whose bail was set at $50,000, is now facing felony charges of child endangerment and a misdemeanor for having an open container of alcohol inside a moving vehicle – along with his previous outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

According to the police, a few months ago in May of this current year, Lopez had been arrested by the California Highway Patrol in Ventura for drunk driving. You can see a pattern here, and hopefully this man gets the help he needs to straighten out his life.

Article inspired by CBS // Drunk man made 11-year-old nephew drive to avoid DUI, cops say