Florida troopers arrested a U.S. Postal Service driver Wednesday after authorities said he intentionally drove his USPS vehicle toward a 10-year-old boy and ran over the child’s electric scooter in an Escambia County neighborhood.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident started Dec. 27 after the carrier, identified as 41-year-old William White Jr., allegedly delivered a package to the wrong home near Kingfisher Way and Kingfisher Court in the Ensley area, according to WEAR News. (RELATED: SCOTUS Hears Out Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against USPS)
“This isn’t just an oops crash with a 10-year-old. This is an intentional act by a United States postal worker trying to run over a 10-year-old,” FHP Capt. Jason King told the outlet.
The child realized the package was misdelivered and rode an electric scooter to take it to the correct address, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said White believed the child was stealing the package, then “purposely drove” the USPS vehicle toward him and ran over the scooter as the boy jumped clear, suffering an ankle injury.
FHP said the boy was taken to a children’s hospital in Pensacola.
Troopers also allege White yelled at the child, pulled the scooter from beneath the postal vehicle, and drove off. When a family member confronted him, investigators said White tossed the scooter into a nearby yard on Blue Jay Way before leaving the area, the outlet reported.
FHP said White was arrested after returning to work on Dec. 31 and booked on charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, petit theft and criminal mischief.
USPS said its Postal Inspection Service is investigating “in partnership with local law enforcement,” adding that it does not comment on personnel matters, according to People.