A Conyers man led police officers on a chase on I-20 with five young children in the vehicle, police confirmed.
Kevin Dearo Roberts, 28, was pulled over July 12 after an officer ran a tag check and found that his Chrysler PT Cruiser did not have valid insurance, Conyers police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News.
Upon pulling him over, the officer discovered five children ranging from 7-month-old twins to a 6-year-old, most of whom were not properly secured. A 5-year-old was riding in the front seat, while the twins were in front-facing car seats in the back seat on either side of the 6-year-old. A 1-year-old was on the floorboard of the back seat.
Police told Roberts that he would need to wait for someone to pick up the children with proper car seats. When a second officer arrived, the first officer reported an odor of marijuana and asked Roberts if he possessed any. Roberts cooperated and handed over less than an ounce, police said.
Despite initial cooperation, Roberts left the traffic stop and took off onto I-20 East after officers told him his car would be impounded because of the canceled insurance, police confirmed.
With three officers in pursuit, police said Roberts made it about a half-mile before he was boxed in and forced to pull over.
He was arrested and charged with felony fleeing, five counts of reckless conduct and violation of child restraint law. He was also charged with possession of marijuana and no proof of insurance.
Officers remained with the children until their mother arrived. They were not injured.
Roberts was booked into the Rockdale County Jail on a $19,000 bond and has not been released, according to jail records.
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