Houston Police Officer Accused of Reckless Driving with 8-Year-Old Son in Car
A Houston police officer is no longer on duty after being arrested for allegedly racing at excessive speeds along the Grand Parkway with his son as a passenger. The officer, Giovanni-Quinn Gumataotao, a two-year veteran of the department, was pulled over by Harris County Sheriff's deputies Thursday night.
According to court records, Gumataotao was spotted driving a black sedan alongside another vehicle at speeds approaching 130 miles per hour - more than double the posted speed limit. The deputy attempted to follow, but struggled to keep up as the vehicles accelerated further. Eventually, one of the drivers exited the freeway, and the other vehicle followed, allowing the deputy to initiate a traffic stop.
During the stop, investigators discovered Gumataotao's 8-year-old son was seated in the backseat. The officer's wife was called to retrieve the child while Gumataotao was arrested and taken into custody. He has since posted bond.
The Houston Police Department confirmed that Gumataotao has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the case. Authorities noted, however, that this traffic stop was made by a regular patrol deputy, not a member of the task force launched last year to combat speeding along the Grand Parkway.
Gumataotao faces charges of racing on a highway and endangering a child. His actions have raised concerns about the dangers of reckless driving, particularly when children are involved.
A Houston police officer is no longer on duty after being arrested for allegedly racing at excessive speeds along the Grand Parkway with his son as a passenger. The officer, Giovanni-Quinn Gumataotao, a two-year veteran of the department, was pulled over by Harris County Sheriff's deputies Thursday night.
According to court records, Gumataotao was spotted driving a black sedan alongside another vehicle at speeds approaching 130 miles per hour - more than double the posted speed limit. The deputy attempted to follow, but struggled to keep up as the vehicles accelerated further. Eventually, one of the drivers exited the freeway, and the other vehicle followed, allowing the deputy to initiate a traffic stop.
During the stop, investigators discovered Gumataotao's 8-year-old son was seated in the backseat. The officer's wife was called to retrieve the child while Gumataotao was arrested and taken into custody. He has since posted bond.
The Houston Police Department confirmed that Gumataotao has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the case. Authorities noted, however, that this traffic stop was made by a regular patrol deputy, not a member of the task force launched last year to combat speeding along the Grand Parkway.
Gumataotao faces charges of racing on a highway and endangering a child. His actions have raised concerns about the dangers of reckless driving, particularly when children are involved.
This is so crazy... I mean, what's the deal with parents letting their kids ride in the backseat while they're speeding around like maniacs? 
Eight years old is way too young to be putting that kid through a wild ride like this. And for what? A thrill? A sense of adventure? Newsflash: it's not worth risking your child's life. 
I'm glad the cop is off duty, but now he's got some serious questions to answer and a lot of damage control to do. 
! I mean, can you even imagine if this was your kid in the backseat? It's insane that someone in a position of power is so careless with their own child's safety. And it's not just about them, think about all the other kids who are at risk because of reckless driving on our roads 
. We need to be more vigilant and hold people accountable for this kind of behavior. I'm glad they're taking action, but we should also be pushing for stricter laws and penalties for people like Gumataotao. Our children's safety should always come first 
.