Parents of infant arrested separately for drunk driving

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Nov 10, 2008 at 12:13 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 10, 2008 at 12:24 PM EST

LAKE COUNTY — A woman was arrested for drunk driving with her 1-year-old son in the vehicle, and when the father came to pick the child up he too was arrested for drunk driving.

An Indiana State trooper stopped a minivan for speeding in the 4000 block of U.S. 30 about 12:45 a.m. Saturday. Troopers determined the driver, 24-year-old Kelli Thompson of Crown Point, was intoxicated.

Thompson called 23-year-old Robert Dereamer of Merrillville to pick up their son from the scene. When he arrived, troopers determined he too was intoxicated.

The boy's grandparents, who police say had also been drinking, arrived and took custody of him. Schererville police escorted them home.

Thompson was arrested on charges of speeding, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated/endangering a child.

Dereamer was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license.

Friday, Nov 14 at 2:50 PM M wrote ...

I'm confused the mom and dad are arrested because they had been drinking, the grandparents had been drinking and and were allowed to take the kid.... hello what's wrong with that picture.

Friday, Nov 14 at 9:48 AM Anonymous wrote ...

They couldn't have been drunk driving together, could they?

Friday, Nov 14 at 8:03 AM Well.... wrote ...

Wow. "saleing"? Wow.

Friday, Nov 14 at 7:51 AM Ryoung wrote ...

Shame on you all, Just a broken family.What a pity.

Thursday, Nov 13 at 7:39 PM tjb wrote ...

funny how all the people here sound so righteous, they put all the "users" down, but they can't spell or use proper english. ever here of proof reading? maybe we need to drink to deal with all this ignorance. people are stupid.

Wednesday, Nov 12 at 5:47 PM susan wrote ...

come on poeple this is funnie reading these comment you guys are a trip.by the way did any one see the news about that man that was drinking and driveing and kill some one this summer thats bad they shoud stop saleing all beers.

Wednesday, Nov 12 at 7:30 AM Mary wrote ...

In the first place drinking is not wrong but drunkeness is,the grandparents shouldnt not have a drink if they wish as adults. the responciability of the children are firstly the ones that gave birth to them. the parents should have had a sitter for the little one and not be driving with them while intoxicated. these people need to start taking more responcibility for the care of their own kids or dont have any.

Wednesday, Nov 12 at 6:48 AM bee wrote ...

debbie:there is no law that says you cant drink around children.you cant contribute to minors or drive drunk with your children or neglect your child while your drunk.but its not illegal to drink around them.

Wednesday, Nov 12 at 1:15 AM Anonymous wrote ...

"There was no booze at our wedding. Drunks are obnoxious." i'll tell you what's obnoxious: a wedding with no booze.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 8:21 PM Lisa wrote ...

Is this a joke? Take that baby away and let a nice normal family adopt that child. You give up all rights to your child when you do crap like that in IMO

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 7:45 PM Ruby wrote ...

Hey Johnny (that be my boy) grab your old mom another bud!

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 5:30 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I can say right now is THIS on heck of a story I feel so sorry forthe baby here ..I can even believe the grandparents was able tothis baby home...HAHAHA what a story

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 3:41 PM lamont wrote ...

When my lurleen 'n I get our drink on, we always make sure to get arrested together. A family that gets arrested together stays together. Too many kids these days getting arrested "separately". It aint right.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 3:30 PM TP wrote ...

I saw this story on the Yahoo Odd News. It said both the Grandma and Pa had been drinking. The Granny was under the legal limit, apperently gramps was not. However, the sad fact is that there wasnt a person around who hadnt been drinking. So everyone was having a good time it sounds like. You think that they could have atleast had someone around that didnt have 1 drop of booze. Not the case. Everyone was drinking, not uncommon, but not ideal when there are children in the equation.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 3:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

There was no booze at our wedding. Drunks are obnoxious.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 2:43 PM charlie wrote ...

The grandparents had been drinking. O.K. If they were over the limit the police wouldnt have let them have the kid. Stop banging the cops and go for the cause--irresponsible parents

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 1:41 PM The first stone wrote ...

You people are totally ridiculous. 1st no one said the grandparents were drunk it just said they had been drinking. maybe they were at a wedding reception or some other party. It does not make them drunks or alcholics. The mom and dad are a totally different story. Stop reading things into it. People in glass houses...

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 1:12 PM Reggie wrote ...

hahaha, you guys are funny, getting so worked up over such things that you have so little influence over.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 12:00 PM NakedNancy wrote ...

Im naked...this sickens me. Not me being naked. the story. ignorant

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 11:02 AM susan wrote ...

i dont care if you are coming from a wedding or a dinner there noexcuss for drunk driving.12.43 am if your family is drunk all the time then your family needs help befor they get on the road and kill some one.your mom and dad did not bring you up write you will be in jail one day for killing a child just wait and see.i have a friend every time he got drunk he called the police and tell them to take him to jail and they did.your family needs help now.???????your family is dumb..

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 10:35 AM Chauncey wrote ...

Debbie, you might want to double up on the Prozac. I don't want to say your response was a little intense but you might want to try a mouthwash too!

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 7:47 AM DEBBIE wrote ...

I KNOW A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY THAT TOOK HIS CHILD TO A WEDDING PARTY AND THERE WAS DRINKING IN ELKHART WITH KIDS THERE AND HE GOT INTO TROUBLE AND THE PLACE ALSO FOR HAVING CHILDREN THERE WITH BOOZE. SO 2 YRS AGO IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO ABUSE BOOZE INFRONT OF KIDS,HAS THAT CHANGED. PLUS THATS WHAT SOCIAL SERVICE IS FOR .SO WHY DID THE OFFICER NOT CALL THEM LIKE MOST DO FOR THE CHILDS SAFETY? DO NOT DRINK WITH KIDS AROUND AND THEY MAY NOT TURN INTO DRUNKS WHEN THEY GET OLDER.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 7:16 AM Slimy wrote ...

Maybe the grandparents drove like the drunk lady in Mishawaka..10 MPH so they thought it was ok for them to take the kid..they must not have been over the limit

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 6:25 AM bee wrote ...

why in the world would anyone show up drunk at the police station?not a very intelligant thing to do.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 6:16 AM Sue wrote ...

Even if it was something like a wedding reception and they're not alcoholics,(giving them the benefit of doubt) before the reception they could have arranged for a babysitter, or someone could have chosen to not drink and be the designated guardian of the child. It's not rocket science, it's just using your BRAIN and actually thinking things out. May God bless and protect this child.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 5:04 AM EC wrote ...

Just and example… I was going through Elkhart when I saw this girl standing outside with her baby in a car seat. The mother had a warm jacket on, but I could see the poor baby’s bare arms sticking out above the rim of the car seat. The sad thing is I see this all the time. Children get cold too and their little bodies get colder faster. Some people just don’t give a crap!

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 1:25 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Why would the police let the grandparents take the child if they had been drinking? Sounds to me like this family needs to go get help for their drinking. The parents need to make a choice their drinking or their child if they want to drink then maybe the child would be better off with a new family who places the child first. What a sad excuse for a family they all need some serious help. How bad I feel for that innocent little child to have been born into a family of drunks.

Tuesday, Nov 11 at 12:43 AM heehaw wrote ...

My whole family is drunk all the time, I was drunk at birth, and yes, I wuz hit by a drunk driver. Hell, it builds character. Y'all complain too much. Whiners. Mind yer business. Only God kin judge. Oh, like y'all are little mr. perfect never did anything wrong. Cops are drunk all the time, ya know. Shut up 'n go ta church.

Monday, Nov 10 at 11:21 PM chester wrote ...

Beverly Hillbillies!

Monday, Nov 10 at 11:21 PM renee wrote ...

I agree with Kathy at 5:30

Monday, Nov 10 at 8:18 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Nice...Parents, grandparents, ect... all drunks. I feel for this kid, he has no future except knowing how to fetch dad n mom a beer outta the fridge. Then we wonder why there is disfunctional ppl all around us. I hope they realize what they are doing and take this as a wake up call.

Monday, Nov 10 at 8:13 PM Cornfusion wrote ...

7:07 has a point, there's no proof or even reason to believe that these people are alcoholics. Of course if they're not then they ARE living proof that any garden variety run of the mill everyday person can turn into a moronic drunk and risk their child's life. I think I'd rather be an Alcoholic because everyday garden variety run of the mill people that turn into moronic drunks and risk the lives of their children don't have meetings to go to get help. Alcoholic or not, there's a problem here!

Monday, Nov 10 at 7:59 PM Kathy wrote ...

Boiling Mad, it seems as if you have some anger issues regarding drunk drivers. There are anger issues and ANGER ISSUES!! As a victim of a drunk driver when I was pregnant, I am not near as angry as you are. Maybe you need to put your anger to good use as opposed to ranting on a blog!! Use some logic and facts before you decide to rant, and use it for a GOOD CAUSE!!

Monday, Nov 10 at 7:07 PM yea.. wrote ...

So why would you just assume that the parents are alcholics? I'm by far not condoning what they did, but you don't know them. It's a little silly to be jumping to conclusions. Unless you know these people personally, you should just label them alcholics

Monday, Nov 10 at 6:48 PM SadSadSad wrote ...

Here's Your Sign!!! You just made it to the Darwin Awards banquet!!!

Monday, Nov 10 at 6:13 PM BOILING MAD! wrote ...

ALERT!!! ONE TIME AND ONE TIME ONLY! Can equal= DEATH... The precious sweet baby is gone...Hopefully, sweet baby didn't suffer...Baby was robbed of his future by his own Drunken, Selfish, Abusive and Thief of a Parent... Thank GOD for the State Trooper who pulled that woman over, because it probably saved that babies life, this time. All it takes is just one time...GIVE THAT BABY A CHANCE, "INVESTIGATE THAT FAMILY AND PROTECT THE INNOCENT CHILD!"

Monday, Nov 10 at 6:00 PM Trever wrote ...

Stop figuring things out. Thats why gossip starts and becomes like a ballomm and no one can stop. This grand paw was drunk and the grand mow too. They were the role models for the mother of the child who was endangered. Why dont they put this beautiful child up for adoption so a loving family will take care of the child. Lots of families are waiting to get a baby in their loving and caring homes. So if you see some drunk mother or father tell them to put the child up for adoption may be someone

Monday, Nov 10 at 5:30 PM Kathy wrote ...

Well, thank goodness the child is fine. I am a bit concerned why the officers let the child ride home with the grandparents if they had been drinking also. Couldn't they have taken the child home while following the grandparents? Obviously the grandparents weren't drunk enough not to drive, right? So, that would mean they were fine to watch the child. This whole thing just stinks to me!

Monday, Nov 10 at 5:16 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Well wait a minute having one drink these days is considered drunk. What did everyone blow?

Monday, Nov 10 at 5:04 PM What??? wrote ...

Seriously? Alcohol demon? Alcohol isn't supernatural...get real. And foster care better than staying with grandparents? My children were abused in foster care! In a Mennonite foster home at that! What's wrong with people?

Monday, Nov 10 at 4:46 PM Tammy wrote ...

Who knows - maybe they had just came from a wedding rehearsal dinner or some type of family celebration. It sounds bad but, there are situations where this could happen (like a wedding reception).

Monday, Nov 10 at 4:16 PM R. wrote ...

So did the grandparents drive there and they didnt blow high enough or did they take them home or did the cops have to escort them to and from the jail? How do you send a child off with drunk people when no one is sober?

Monday, Nov 10 at 3:58 PM Cornfusion wrote ...

Did anyone think to check the kids bottle? You can't expect anything but the worse from the "Parents of the Year"!

Monday, Nov 10 at 2:55 PM anom wrote ...

the family was probably at a party. yeah that is bad that they all came drunk but damn dont call them alcoholics just because one night they are all drunk maybe they dont drink everynight and day. dont judge people from one incident that you dont know everything that was going on. but dont get me wrong these people shouldnt have put the child in danger but people need to stop the bad judgements consently everybody that posts are always judging negatively.

Monday, Nov 10 at 2:14 PM shoppy wrote ...

What a bright future this child has.He will grow up to be the third generation alcoholic. Speaking from experience only Jesus can remove this alcohol demon from their life.

Monday, Nov 10 at 2:07 PM stupid human tricks wrote ...

Are you kidding me! You know, my husband and I would love to have children of our own, it still amazes me how some parents put their children in danger without even a second thought. Then to have the father, and grandparents show up drunk....at what point do you say enough is enough! So my question is to whos care did this baby go? Is there ONE responsible person in this childs life? JUST REDICULOUS!

Monday, Nov 10 at 1:44 PM Anonymous wrote ...

They let the grandfather take the child and he too had been drinking?? whats wrong with this picture..sounds like this child would be better off far away from this family all together...

Monday, Nov 10 at 1:41 PM JR wrote ...

And we wonder why our children are not doing well. This poor child hasn't got a chance.

Monday, Nov 10 at 1:41 PM Mary wrote ...

Sounds like the entire family has alcohol issues. I feel bad for the child to have to live with that.

Monday, Nov 10 at 1:31 PM KY wrote ...

SICK SICK SICK

Monday, Nov 10 at 1:28 PM Speaks Whats On My Mind wrote ...

It's apperent that everyone in this family is an alcholic or just don't have anything better to do than drink. I feel sorry for the child having to grow up around such irresponsible people, I hope and pray the child doesn't grow up and take up the same habits.

Monday, Nov 10 at 1:25 PM Anonymous wrote ...

here's your sign

Monday, Nov 10 at 1:04 PM Me wrote ...

What a wonderful family! NOT!!

Monday, Nov 10 at 12:57 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Lovely. Please let the parents loose on the west side of South Bend to join the party. Place the child in foster care, please, with people who care about his well-being.

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