Police in Colorado say a routine DUI stop quickly spiraled into a disturbing discovery after officers learned a drunk driver had three children hiding in the trunk of his car.
The Westminster Police Department shared details of the incident after releasing bodycam footage from the arrest, which took place in Westminster.
According to police, the situation began when an officer spotted a vehicle driving recklessly near City Center Drive and 93rd Avenue. When the officer approached the car, he immediately noticed the smell of alcohol coming from inside.
In the footage, the officer asks the driver why he believed he was being pulled over and whether he had been drinking. The driver, whose face was blurred, claimed he was stopped because he was “acting like an idiot” and denied consuming any alcohol.
The officer pushed back, warning the driver that he was lucky he hadn’t seriously hurt someone. He again asked if the driver had been drinking, pointing out the strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle.
The officer then asked the driver to perform voluntary roadside sobriety tests. The driver initially agreed but quickly changed his mind. At that point, the officer placed him in handcuffs.
That’s when the encounter took a shocking turn.
After being detained, the driver admitted there were three children hiding in the trunk of the car. The officer appeared stunned and asked why the man hadn’t mentioned that earlier.
When officers opened the trunk, they found three children squeezed together inside. Police did not say whether the children were related to the driver.
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Authorities noted the stop occurred during freezing temperatures, making the situation even more dangerous. Fortunately, police said the children were unharmed.
Officers also recovered several bottles of alcohol from inside the vehicle.
Child Protective Services was contacted, and the children were later released into the care of family members.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI, reckless driving, failure to provide valid insurance, and three counts of child abuse. He was transported to the Adams County Jail.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
The way kids are treated now from abortions, trafficking , and other abuse, all people found doing something to a child should be removed from society