Mom charged with child abuse after son, 11, drives golf cart
BALD HEAD ISLAND, N.C. -- A woman says she was arrested, charged with child abuse and detained for hours for letting her 11-year-old son drive a golf cart during a family vacation on a North Carolina beach resort island.
Julie Mall tells The Charlotte Observer her son asked to drive the cart two blocks back to their rented cottage on Bald Head Island on July 26. Mall says a police golf cart pulled them over and an officer accused her of being drunk, which she denies. She says more officers showed up and she was arrested. Video shows a screaming Mall on the ground being handcuffed by an officer with a knee on her back.
The charges were later dismissed.
Village manager Chris McCall says it will be reviewing public safety policies and procedures.