Police draw guns outside West Lafayette daycare

WEST LAFAYTTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Police said a drunken driver's reckless fun ended at gunpoint outside a West Lafayette daycare this week.

The incident occurred around 5:30 Wednesday evening.              

Police said they received multiple calls that a Jeep crashed into the roundabout at Yeager Road and Northwestern Avenue, then circled several times trying to flee the scene.             

Multiple units arrived just as the Jeep drove into the parking lot of a nearby daycare with three passengers inside the vehicle.            

Forty-one-year-old Jeremy Askren was behind the wheel.

Police said because of Askren’s recklessness, they did not know what to expect.

“By the time they got over here, they were actually trying to get out of the vehicle to take off when we pulled up. They were held at gunpoint because they were trying to flee,” said West Lafayette K-9 officer Jeff Dunscomb.

Inside the daycare, kids were ushered to the back of the building to make sure they were safe.

“I was worried for the children. We moved the children to the back room because I wasn't sure exactly what was happening, so we did move them away from harm's way. Then the police officer came over and said that everything was under control,” said teacher Amanda Hayden.

Askren was taken to Franciscan St. Elizabeth East to test his blood-alcohol content, and subsequently arrested for operating while intoxicated. The three passengers were later released.