He tried to pick a fight with two kids. He was arrested for endangering his own.

A 52-year-old man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly picking a fight with a couple of kids and nearly hitting them with his car.

Raul Garza Rodriguez was driving south on Moffett Road in Ceres in front of Carroll Fowler Elementary School Sunday afternoon when “words were exchanged” between him and two boys walking north on the other side of the road, according to Sgt. Jose Berber.

Berber said it wasn’t clear if the boys – ages 10 and 17 – yelled something at Rodriguez or what exactly prompted the exchange but he made a U-Turn to go back toward the boys and allegedly drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk in front of them, nearly hitting them.

“He got out of the car and tried to fight these kids,” Berber said.

An officer was in the area when the incident occurred and quickly responded.

Rodriguez had been driving with his wife and two sons, a 10-year-old and an infant, Berber said. He was determined to be under the influence of alcohol.

Rodriguez was arrested on suspicion child endangerment due to driving drunk with his children, driving under the influence and assault with a deadly weapon for nearly hitting the boys walking on the sidewalk, Berber said. He also had a warrant for his arrest for domestic violence and battery.

A family member had to come to the scene to take custody of the boys because their mother also was under the influence.

This story was originally published June 6, 2017 at 7:34 PM with the headline "He tried to pick a fight with two kids. He was arrested for endangering his own.."