Man accused of forcing girlfriend's vehicle with kids through intersection

FARGO - A Horace, N.D., man is accused of using his pickup truck to push his girlfriend's vehicle through a Fargo intersection as her children rode with her.

William Michael Smith, 24, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of reckless endangerment, Fargo police Sgt. Mark Lykken said.

Smith and his 25-year-old girlfriend had been arguing all day before she drove her three children, ages 3, 5 and 6, into Fargo Tuesday night, Lykken said, citing the police report.

When she stopped for a red light at the Interstate 94 off-ramp at 25th Street South, Smith allegedly drove up behind her, placed the bumper of his truck against her vehicle, revved his engine and pushed her into the intersection, Lykken said.

The woman told police "she had to stand on her brakes, but he was still pushing her," Lykken said. "She was pushed so far into the intersection that she had to drive through or risk being struck by another vehicle."

Fargo police contacted Cass County sheriff's deputies, who arrested Smith and took him to the Cass County Jail.