Papa busted, 9-year-old walks after erratic ride through PF

A man who allowed a 9-year-old to drive his car Sunday evening in Post Falls was stopped by police and arrested on a warrant.

Edward L. Williams, 49, was wanted in Washington for a parole violation when he allowed his 9-year-old granddaughter to sit on his lap and steer his silver 2001 Ford Taurus through residential neighborhoods in Post Falls.

Williams told arresting officers, he was “just trying to be a good grandpa.”

The Hauser Lake landscaper is being held in the Kootenai County jail on a fugitive warrant and for two counts of child endangerment. A judge on Monday assigned a public defender to represent him.

Witnesses told police they were alerted to the Taurus around 5 p.m. by its erratic path as it rolled through Ponderosa Loop, and along Ponderosa Boulevard south of I-90 and Highway 41.

“I saw a silver Ford being operated by a small child going south down 41 and almost striking parked vehicles,” Kylee Camacho wrote in a witness statement.

Camacho told police the 9-year-old drove from Highway 41 near Mullan Road to Ross Point Road and west on Ponderosa Boulevard to Ponderosa Loop, almost striking signs and mailboxes and “at one time … went up on the sidewalk.”

Two children — including the 9-year-old and a 13-year-old girl — were inside the Taurus when Post Falls police stopped the car. Williams said he was letting the girls drive while he controlled the foot pedals.

The children’s mother arrived and picked up her daughters, police said.

“Other than Williams’ actions, nothing of concern was noted from (the mother),” police wrote in a report.