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A father who let his 9-year-old son drive the family car in a supermarket parking lot was charged by Syracuse police after the child drove into another car.
"They're making a big deal out of nothing," said the father, Robert Samuel Sr., 46, of 2813 Burnet Ave. No one was hurt and the damage to both cars was minor, Samuel said.
Police were called to the Price Chopper parking lot at 2515 Erie Blvd. E. after a passerby saw the collision and called 911 at 5:05 p.m. Sunday, police reports said.
The witness told police the child had been in the driver's seat, then moved back to the passenger seat after driving the 1996 Ford into a parked Jeep. Both cars had bumper and fender damage, according to a police report.
Police said the youngster, Robert Samuel Jr., was upset when they arrived and initially denied driving, saying later he feared he would be arrested.
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