Though it's not spelled out explicitly, dad PATRICK CHARLES CARNEY's actions took place during a custody exchange. Court-ordered, I imagine.
http://articles.courant.com/2011-03-16/community/hc-vernon-assault-0317-2-20110316_1_parking-lot-gas-and-brake-pedals-police
Tolland Father Faces Assault Charges
March 16, 2011By HILLARY FEDERICO, hfederico@courant.com, The Hartford Courant
VERNON — Police have arrested a Tolland father of two Wednesday after he allegedly swore at his children and threatened to hit one with his car.
Patrick Charles Carney, of 127 Hurlburt Road, Tolland, is charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor, reckless driving, third-degree assault and reckless endangerment, among other charges.
His arrest stems from an incident reported on March 13. Police said Carney was dropping his 4-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son off to their mother at Lafayette Square, 30 Hyde Ave., Vernon. The woman told police that Carney was "in a rage" when he arrived and almost hit another car when he pulled into the parking lot.
Police said Carney then drove directly toward the woman's vehicle, stopping just before hitting it. Carney's children were sitting in the backseat.
After Carney stopped his car, he "yanked" his daughter out of the car causing her to fall on the ground, police said. He then allegedly ordered his son out of the car, screaming obscenities at him.
As the 7-year-old was walking toward his mother's car, Carney put his foot on both the gas and brake pedals causing the rear wheels to lose traction with the ground, police said. Smoke was coming from the back tires. Police said the boy was standing in front of the car as Carney did this.
"This placed the child in extreme danger because had the car lurched forward it would have pinned the child between Carney's and [the woman's] vehicle," Sgt. Daniel Moore said.