Dad ‘let girl, 12, drive Jeep at 85mph because he wanted her to think he was cool’
Shaun Michaelson's alleged antics have sparked comparisons with the infamous 'cool mom' from teen flick Mean Girls
A father let a 12 year-old girl drive his Jeep at 85mph because he wanted her to think he was cool, police say. Shaun Michaelson, 41, was busted Monday and allegedly told a cop in Jupiter, Florida, that although the girl wasn’t his daughter, he wanted to try and impress her.
Michaelson reportedly said the girl had asked to drive his SUV earlier that day, and that he ‘thought it would be cool’ to let her get behind the wheel, because he was keen to portray himself as a ‘cool father’ to the girl’s mom, who is his friend.
He is also said to have admitted drinking before the incident.
The unnamed child’s joyride came to the attention of police after she was spotted performing an illegal U-turn, and driving at speeds of up to 85mph in a 45mph zone.
Jupiter Officer Craig Yochum pulled the pair over, and asked the girl why she had been speeding. She is said to have answered that Michaleson had told her to do so.
Michaelson is also accused of buying vape pens for the girl and another underage friend who had been staying with him for several days. His alleged behavior is similar to that of June George – the fictional ‘cool mom’, played by Amy Poehler in 2004 teen movie Mean Girls. She let underage kids drink and offered daughter Regina condoms in a bid to be seen as fashionable.
Michaelson has been charged with child neglect, allowing an unauthorized person to drive and encouraging delinquency. He was held in Palm Beach County Jail ahead of a court hearing Tuesday.
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