Dad Lets 2-Year-Old Child Drive His Car, Play Radio, Hit Horn: Chief

SHOREWOOD — A Joliet criminal offender who now makes Shorewood his home was arrested this past weekend after Shorewood Police Chief Phil Arnold said 39-year-old Matthew Nero let his 2-year-old son drive his car, honk the horn and play loud music.

Nero has been the subject of numerous Joliet Patch crime articles over the past several years.

According to Arnold, Shorewood police officers were sent to the area of Huntington Drive and Huntington Court to investigate a suspicious vehicle driving back and forth, blowing its horn, yelling, and playing loud music.

Upon arrival, the officers saw the vehicle pulling into a driveway on the 1100 block of Huntington Drive. Officers approached as Nero, 39, got out of the vehicle holding his 2-year-old son. Officers advised Nero that they had been called and why, and according to Arnold, Nero replied that he was letting his son “drive," while sitting on Nero’s lap, honk the horn, and play the radio while driving on the roadway.

According to Arnold, Nero added that he didn’t think it was a big deal to do so.

Nero was arrested for endangering the life of a child and released with a notice to appear in compliance with the Pretrial Fairness Act / SAFE-T Act. His initial court date will be on March 28 at 9 a.m. in Room 202 of the Will County Courthouse.

Previous Joliet Patch stories about Matthew Nero:

• Strangling Lands Joliet Man In Jail Again: Cops
• Belt Wrapped Around Victim's Neck At Budget Inn: Police
• 'He Told Her He Would Kill Her:' Complaint