Teen charged for driving off in car with 3 kids

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police have charged a 13-year-old girl for taking three children for a joy ride in her aunt's car.

According to police, the teen, identified as Fabersha Jackson, drove away from her Northwest Miami-Dade home, at 11th Avenue and Northwest 106th Street, in her aunt's black Infiniti, Monday night. Inside the vehicle were a 5-year-old boy, an infant girl and a third, very young child of unknown age. "This is a young lady, who is going through some issues, she took the car, because of peer pressure or wanting to be friends," said Branden Jones, a family friend.

Police were notified and pulled the teen over about 40 blocks from where she initially drove off, in Liberty City. A family member said the children are cousins of the teen. All were found safe and are back in the care of their mother. "I just know that my little niece got in the car pulled off with them," said a family member. "I don't really know what went on."

According to the arrest affidavit, Jackson's 17-year-old sister fell asleep while baby-sitting their cousins. The report says Jackson grabbed the keys to the Infiniti, put the cousins in the car and drove off to go to the store with a friend. She told police she was trying to get back home before her aunt and mother returned.

A family member alerted Miami-Dade Police to the teen driving on her own, and they found her in the car at Northwest 63rd Street and 13th Avenue. "The girl is only 13 years old, she doesn't even know how to drive. She could've ran a stop sign, hit someone," said Jones, "ran a red light, with a baby in the car with her-- a newborn baby-- so all this stuff plays a big role."

Jackson was charged with grand theft auto. Police said she told them she was sorry for what she did.

The teen was taken into police custody and processed at the Juvenile Assessment Center. She was released the following afternoon. She is due to face a judge in October.

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