Woman arrested for allowing 12-year-old to drive

UPDATED WITH PHOTO: A Nichols woman is in the Johnson County Jail after allegedly allowing a 12-year-old child to drive her and her three children from Nichols to Iowa City.

Melissa Garcia, 21, was arrested on Saturday night in connection to three counts of child endangerment and operating a vehicle with no consent.

According to the arrest report, officers were called to an undisclosed location in Iowa City in regard to a fight in progress. During the investigation, officers discovered Garcia allowed the 12-year-old to drive her and her three children – ages three, two, and one - in a minivan. The officers found the children were not properly restrained in the vehicle and noticed a large amount of debris in the back seat.

Garcia, who is seven months pregnant with her fourth child, told officers the 12-year-old was weaving all over the road and almost went into a ditch. Garcia allegedly began yelling at the child and told her to stop driving the minivan. Garcia then began to drive the vehicle herself. Officers say the owner of the minivan did not give permission to Garcia or the child to operate the vehicle.

As of Sunday, Garcia remains in custody on a $10,000 cash only bond.