Police say he let a 9-year-old drive

Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 00:00

Father arrested for DWI and endangering his daughter

GUILDERLAND — An Albany man was arrested on Sunday for driving while intoxicated, and then letting his 9-year-old daughter get behind the wheel of the car.

Eugene A. Singleton, 56, of 52 North Swan St., in Albany, was seen by a Crossgates Mall security officer sitting in the passenger seat of a car in the Crossgates Mall parking lot, while a girl drove, according to the Guilderland Police report. The arrest report lists Singleton as unemployed.

The police report and Captain Curtis Cox of the Guilderland Police Department report events unfolding this way:  Guilderland officer Paul Mahan arrived on the scene and immediately noticed an odor of alcohol on Singleton’s breath. Singleton told Mahan that he had driven his car to the mall from Swan Street, with his wife and two young children, ages 7 and 9.

Singleton’s wife, Sabrina, 31, was in the mall shopping, and Singleton allowed his 9-year-old daughter to drive the car. He told Mahan he was teaching his daughter to drive, “but only under the proper supervision.”

Cox said a minor is never allowed behind the wheel of a car without a permit or license, even under parental supervision. Singleton’s New York State driver’s license was revoked, Cox said.

Mahan administered a field sobriety test, which Singleton failed. He registered a blood alcohol content of .12 percent; the legal limit for driving is .08 percent.

He was arrested for aggravated driving while intoxicated, under Leandra’s Law, a felony, because there were minors in the car; driving while intoxicated, first-offense; driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or greater; endangering the welfare of a child; and, second-degree reckless endangerment, all misdemeanors.

Sabrina Singleton was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, because she allowed her husband to drive with the children when she knew that he was intoxicated. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Singleton was taken to Albany County’s jail. Bail was set at $20,000 by Judge John Bailey in Guilderland Town Court. Both of the Singletons are due to appear in Guilderland Town Court tonight.

A referral was made to the Albany County Department of Social Services.

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