Two-year-old moves running truck while father makes tobacco run

Police say a Muncie man watched from inside a tobacco store Tuesday as his 2-year-old son, left alone in the father's running pickup truck, shifted the vehicle into reverse toward a busy city road and then back into drive, headed for the store.

Fortunately, an off-duty police officer was able to gain control of the vehicle before the youngster was injured.

With a warrant out for his arrest, police said, the father walked outside, shoved the officer and took off running, once again leaving his toddler son behind in the parking lot.

David L. Ferguson, 29, 2938 S. Chippewa Lane, was found about 25 minutes later and jailed on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent, a Class C felony carrying a standard four-year prison term, and resisting law enforcement, a misdemeanor.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Ferguson stopped at the Discount Tobacco store, 2117 W. Eighth St., around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, leaving his son inside the vehicle with its engine still running.

While Ferguson was inside, the boy was able to place the truck into reverse, sending it toward Batavia Avenue. The youngster then shifted the truck into drive, and it began rolling in the direction of the tobacco store.

That's when John Jett, an off-duty Daleville police officer who had observed what was happening, was reportedly able to get into the unlocked truck and stop it before any collisions occurred, leaving the toddler unharmed.

Ferguson -- the target of a Muncie City Court warrant for failing to pay a fine in a driving-while-suspended case -- then left the store and approached Jett, who identified himself as a police officer.

Ferguson responded by shoving Jett, court documents said, and then fled on foot down a nearby alley.

Muncie police officer Darrin Clark, who found Ferguson about 25 minutes later at an Eighth Street home, said Wednesday he was disappointed in Ferguson's apparent selfishness.

"(Ferguson) was more concerned about himself than his child," Clark said. "If he was a man, he would've came out there when he saw the truck had backed out and took his chances of going to jail."

Clark said Tuesday's incident provided a good lesson for parents who ever think of leaving their children alone in a vehicle.

"You shouldn't leave your child unattended like that any time, even if it's for a minute or two," Clark said. "Especially in an unlocked vehicle left running."

The warrant had been issued for Ferguson's arrest last month after he failed to pay a fine issued in January.

According to Delaware and Randolph county court records, he has also been convicted of burglary (in 2001), theft (2002), resisting law enforcement (2007) and receiving stolen property (2008).

Ferguson was being held Wednesday at the Delaware County jail under a $12,500 bond.