Drunken grandparents towed grandchild Sunday

A seven-year-old girl was towed in her plastic toy car behind her grandfather’s sport utility vehicle in Sarasota on Sunday. He was driving the vehicle drunk while towing his granddaughter with dog leashes.

Paul J. Berloni, 49, of the 3300 block of Clark Road East in Sarasota, was charged with driving under the influence, child endangerment and driving with a suspended license. It was his third driving under the influence charge.

Belinda Jean Berloni, 47, of the same address, faces a child endangerment charge. The granddaughter didn’t sustain any injuries.

The incident occurred at 4:30 p.m. Sunday when a deputy saw the SUV pulling a plastic Hot Wheels car with a girl dressed in a swimsuit but wearing no protective gear such as a helmet. The toy car was tied to a trailer hitch with two dog leashes.

Paul Berloni admitted that his driver's license was revoked and that he had been drinking alcohol.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].