Illinois Man Allegedly Had 11-Year-Old Drive Herself to School While He Sat in Passenger Seat
An Illinois man is accused of letting an 11-year-old relative drive herself and another child to elementary school as he sat in the passenger seat earlier this month, PEOPLE confirms.
Khafilu Oshodi, 31, is wanted by Round Lake Park police for two counts of child endangerment and driving with a suspended license, Chief George Filenko tells PEOPLE. Police issued a warrant for Oshodi’s arrest after trying to make attempts to reach him following the alleged incident.
On the morning of Jan. 9, school employees called police after staff members allegedly saw the 11-year-old driving a car up to the school’s drop off point and getting out from behind the wheel. A 9-year-old boy exited the car from the rear seat.
The child didn’t appear to be alone. Oshodi was allegedly sitting in the passenger seat and when the girl exited he allegedly slid over to the driver’s seat, put the car into gear and drove off, Filenko said.
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When police were notified of the alleged incident, they tried to contact Oshodi. After multiple attempts, a warrant for misdemeanor charges was issued.
“We gave him every opportunity in the world,” Filenko says. “We had no choice but to get the warrant.”
During their investigation, police found that Oshodi had a suspended license. One week after the incident, the vehicle the girl was driving, a rental car, was reported stolen, Filenko said. It is unclear if the car was stolen at the time the girl allegedly drove it.
“Oshodi’s irresponsible behavior could have led to many bad scenarios,” Filenko says, noting that the school’s drop off and pickup times are its busiest.
The children are safe and with their parents.
Anyone with information on Oshodi’s whereabouts is urged to call Round Lake Park police at (847) 270-9111.
