Boy on dad's lap crashes SUV into tree

SIDNEY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A man is facing numerous charges after police said he let his 4-year-old son sit on his lap and drive their SUV, which crashed into a tree.

Sean Bylsma, 34,  from Comstock Park, suffered minor injuries in the Saturday crash, and the unrestrained boy was not hurt.

A Montcalm County sheriff's deputy tried to pull over the man's Chevrolet Suburban after noticing heavy front-end damage on the SUV following the wreck as Bylsma drove in Sidney Township. The man disobeyed orders and continued to drive to his mother's residence on S. Nevins Road in Sidney Township.

Once at the residence, Bylsma again allegedly refused to comply with the deputy's orders and a fight ensued, resulting in the deputy suffering minor injuries, according to a news release.

He was then taken into custody and the child was turned over to a relative.

Open intoxicants were found inside the suspect's SUV, and the arresting deputy saw the suspect throw an alcoholic beverage from the vehicle prior to stopping at the residence.

Bylsma was arraigned Monday afternoon on four charges:

• fleeing and eluding a police officer (a felony)
• assault-resisiting-obstrucing a police officer (a felony)
• operating while license suspended, revoked or denied
• open alcohol in a motor vehicle

The suspect was arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding officers, resisting and obstructing officers, driving while license suspended, transporting open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, and child endangerment.

"It is believed alcohol was the main contributing factor in this incident," police said.

The police report has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office and Children's Protective Services for review.