7-Year-Old Who Drove Car May Appear In Court

DETROIT (WWJ) - A 7-year-old Huron County boy who took his stepfather's Pontiac Sunbird to drive to his biological father's home is being petitioned to appear in family court.

Huron County Prosecutor Tim Rutkowski said the petition is part of the investigation process.

"When we petition a young person into court, it's not for punishment purposes," said Rutkowski. "Generally speaking, the general purpose for any juvenile case is to find out what it is that is going on in the young person's life to make them do whatever they did and how best do we treat that," Rutkowski told WWJ Newsradio 950.

The little boy led police on a 50 mile-an-hour chase before he managed to stop the car, driving nearly 20 miles.

"The young man when he was spoken to by the officers said they wanted to see his father," said Rutkowski. "He was leaving his residence which I believe is somewhere in Sheridan Township and driving nearly 20 miles over to Caseville, in Caseville Township, which is on the western part of our county."

It's not clear how the little boy may have acquired his driving skills. Rutkowski said it is also not clear whether the boy's parents will face any charges.

"It all depends. You know the information that we've received, thus far, doesn't suggest that at this point that it would rise to the level of being criminal in nature, but the investigation still is ongoing," said Rutkowski.

Rutkowski said the petition does not mean the child will face any charges as they are still trying to figure out all the facts.