Hibbs man arrested for jumping from vehicle with children in backseat
State police arrested a man Sunday after he jumped from the driver’s seat of his vehicle with two children in the rear seat.
Junior Guthrie, 37, of Hibbs, is charged by state police with felonies of endangering the welfare of children, and misdemeanors of evading arrest and reckless endangerment.
According to the criminal complaint, police attempted to pull Guthrie over after he ran a stop sign at the intersection of Fairbank Herbert and Cardale roads in Redstone Township. Guthrie allegedly drove a short distance on Seatontown Road before opening the driver’s side door and jumping out of the car while it was still in motion. Police said the car was partially off of the roadway and at risk of going over an embankment when Guthrie jumped.
A woman was sitting in the front passenger seat and her two children were sitting in the back. The kids were identified as being 9 years old and 10 months old.
Guthrie told police he jumped because he was nervous due to not having a driver’s license.
He was arraigned Monday morning before District Judge Jason Cox, who sent him to the Fayette County jail on $40,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 21.