BARRE — Police say a drunken grandfather almost drove into a school bus and told a police officer he had a gun while taking his grandchildren to school Thursday.

Terrence Lacroix, 57, of Barre, was cited on charges of drunken driving and cruelty to children. He is scheduled to appear to Washington County criminal court Feb. 14.

Police responded to a report of an erratic driver who almost hit a school bus at the Barre City school. Police were told Lacroix had parked and walked two young children into the school.

Police confronted Lacroix and said he told them he had a 9mm Beretta on him. Police discovered this was not true and took him into custody. At the police station, police said, Lacroix had a blood alcohol content of 0.287 percent.