Father mishandled incident where gun found in sewer

The Herald story as written: A father spots a gun in a storm sewer while driving! He directs the son, age not given, to exit the car and retrieve the weapon.

At some point after the son, age not given, picked up the weapon, it discharged. The pair then drove home after discharging a weapon. They then handed the weapon to a patrol vehicle officer at some point.

If the father could ID the item as a weapon, why not remain at the scene and allow the weapon to be secured by officers? It could have been used in a crime and evidence may have been compromised by the son, whose age was not given.

Perhaps the Department of Children and Families should investigate why the child, age not given, was allowed to handle the firearm by the father. No child endangerment here?

Jim Heuberger

Bradenton

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Father mishandled incident where gun found in sewer ."