MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police say two terrified kids called the police Monday night to report their dad was driving drunk.
Officers said when they arrived at Mississippi Boulevard and Pearl Place, Jessie Newman’s car was parked on a sidewalk, and he was asleep at the wheel.
His children, ages 14 and 6, said their father was so impaired he was swerving on the road. They said they were afraid their dad was going to crash and begged him to pull over.
Officers said Newman’s speech was slurred and seemed incoherent. They said he could not tell them where he was and when asked where his kids were, he said they were with their mother even though they were inside the car.
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Police said Newman failed to complete a field sobriety test and had trouble unlocking his phone to call the children’s mother. Officers did not find any alcohol or open containers in his vehicle.
Newman was charged with child abuse and neglect, DUI, DUI-child endangerment, public intoxication, and reckless endangerment, all misdemeanors.