Police Bodycam Footage Shows Moment 3 Kids are Found Hiding in Trunk of Car During DUI Arrest

Police in Colorado say a routine drunk-driving stop quickly escalated into something far more disturbing.

The Westminster Police Department (WPD) shared bodycam footage on Facebook from a recent driving under the influence (DUI) arrest that also involved multiple underage children.

Westminster officers said the incident started when a traffic officer saw a vehicle driving recklessly near City Center Dr and 93rd Ave. in Westminster, Colo. When the officer approached the driver, police said he “immediately noticed the smell of alcohol.”

In the video, the officer asks the driver — whose face is obscured — why he thinks he was pulled over and whether he had been drinking. The driver replies that he was likely stopped because he was “acting like an idiot,” and denies consuming alcohol.

The officer pushes back, warning him how close the situation came to turning dangerous: “You’re lucky you didn’t hit somebody… Are you sure you didn’t drink any alcohol because I got a smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle right now?”

The officer then asks if the driver is willing to take “voluntary roadside maneuvers.” The driver initially agrees, but appears to change his mind moments later. The officer then tells him, “You don’t want to complete these? Alright, put your hands behind your back,” and places him in handcuffs.

That’s when the stop took a startling turn.

After being detained, the driver admitted there were three children hiding in the trunk, according to the footage. “So, you have three kids hiding in the trunk?” the officer asks. “You didn’t think that would be a good idea to say something before?” he adds.

When officers opened the trunk, they found three children squeezed together inside. Police did not say whether the children were related to the driver.

Officers noted the conditions were especially concerning because of the weather. “We’d like to point out it was also freezing temps outside during this stop,” the department said, adding that the children were not injured. Police also said multiple bottles of alcohol were recovered from inside the vehicle.

Child Protective Services was contacted, and the children were released to family, police said.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI, reckless driving, failure to provide valid insurance, and three counts of child abuse. He was taken to Adams County Jail.

WPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case.