Man found passed out behind wheel with toddler in running vehicle, Melbourne police say

MELBOURNE, Fla. — A 32-year-old man was arrested in Melbourne Tuesday afternoon and charged with DUI after police said they found him passed out behind the wheel with a 16-month-old child in the back seat.

Travis Paul Taffer was on his way to pick up a 7-year-old child from school when he was found, the Melbourne Police Department said.

Officers responded to the area of Hibiscus and Harbor City boulevards just after 2 p.m. to a report of a motorist passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle, investigators said.

When they arrived at the scene, they reported finding Taffer passed out with his foot on the brake of a running vehicle that was in gear, the Melbourne Police Department said.

The officers were able to put the vehicle in park and wake Taffer up without incident.

An open container of alcohol was found in Taffer’s hand, investigators said.

Taffer was arrested and charged with DUI, DUI with a minor in the vehicle, driving on a suspended license and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Cox Media Group