ST. LOUIS — A mother is facing charges after she allowed her 8-year-old son to drive her and her toddler to their East St. Louis home early Monday morning because she was drunk, according to a law enforcement source. The toddler was found in the back without a car seat, police said.
St. Louis prosecutors charged Latonya Mayes-Gale on Monday with two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, creating substantial risk. Each charge is a felony.
According to the probable cause statement from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, around 4 a.m. Monday, an 8-year-old was seen driving a car in the wrong direction of traffic, heading west in the eastbound lane at the corner of 4th and Walnut streets.
Police said he took control and drove the car after his mother, Mayes-Gale, couldn't drive. Charging documents said she was passed out in the back seat of the car.
A security officer nearby saw the boy driving and stopped him, according to a law enforcement source. The security officer then called the police.
When officers arrived, they found her toddler in the back without a secured child seat, police said.
Preliminary information found that Mayes-Gale was under the influence of alcohol and was tired so she allowed her son to drive them to their East St. Louis home, a law enforcement source said.
Police transported her to Saint Louis University Hospital to determine whether she was "fit for confinement," and took her into custody shortly after.
Mayes-Gales was booked into the St. Louis City Justice Center.
There were no further details provided regarding this case as of Monday night.
