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Fla. man arrested for driving sick sister to hospital without a license

Acknowledges to police officers it would have been better to call 911 for an ambulance; he has three previous convictions of driving without a license

Northwest Florida Daily News

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A 31-year-old Shalimar man is in trouble after allegedly driving his sister to the hospital, despite having three prior conviction for driving without a license.

Michael Paul Pennington was stopped by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputies on Feb. 8 at 7:18 p.m., according to the arrest report. He got out of the vehicle and said he was taking his sister to the hospital because she was having breathing issues.

Deputies followed him to the hospital, where he dropped off his sister, the report said. While speaking with deputies, he said that his sister had taken some medication that had caused her to have shortness of breath.

Investigation found that the woman had not been in immediate danger, according to the report. Pennington allegedly acknowledged that it would have been better to call 911 and have an ambulance take his sister to the hospital.

When asked about his license, Pennington said he didn’t have one, the report said. A check showed that he’d been convicted of driving without a license three times.

He is charged with driving while his license is suspended or revoked as a third or subsequent offense.

His next scheduled court date is March 17.

©2015 the Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.)