A 31-year-old man is facing multiple charges after police say he was performing dangerous driving stunts in downtown Atlanta with a child in the passenger seat.
The Incident
According to Atlanta police, the incident occurred around 2 a.m. on June 7, when an officer observed a vehicle spinning donuts and performing burnouts at an intersection along Edgewood Avenue SE. When officers stopped the vehicle, they discovered a child seated in the front passenger seat.
Driver’s Response
Body camera footage from the stop shows the driver, identified as 31-year-old Alexander Parrott, speaking with officers. According to police, when confronted about the danger of the situation, Parrott responded, “But he had his seatbelt on.”
Charges Filed
Investigators say Parrott, who is related to the child, was arrested at the scene. He faces multiple charges, including reckless driving, obstruction, laying drag, operating a vehicle with a modified exhaust and altered suspension, impeding traffic, and failure to maintain lane.
Police Response
Officers emphasized the danger posed by the late-night stunt driving, noting that such behavior carries serious risk, particularly when a child is involved. “It’s one thing to endanger yourself,” one officer said following the arrest. “But when you put a kid in the car, that crosses the line.”
Part of a Broader Enforcement Effort
The arrest comes as Atlanta continues to address a rise in reckless driving and illegal street racing incidents in recent years, prompting officials to pursue stricter enforcement and increased penalties for offenders.
Child Safely Removed
The child was safely removed from the vehicle during the traffic stop. Authorities have not released further details regarding custody arrangements but confirmed the child was not physically harmed.