Arrested mom asks for apology

A Tinley Park woman and her family are seeking an apology from Crestwood police after a weekend excursion to donate to charity ended with the mother of three being arrested on a child-endangerment charge.

[Katie]

I have two little children and I understand how it is waking up your sleeping child. I think that the police department should be charged with the crime leaving other two children in Wal-Mart by themselves.

[Stopbadcops]

What the Crestwood Police department did to those little girls was shameful. The Police Cheif should be fired and if he's not the mayor should be thrown out of office. Do the people of Crestwood support this thuggish behavior by their 'police'?

[JCD]

Great job Crestwood PD! Nothing better to do except to play the role of Robo Cop? Disgusting!

[Midknight Ryder]

She's not going to get one either. When do Police EVER admit when they're wrong.

[Lou]

Midknight Ryder wrote:

She's not going to get one either. When do Police EVER admit when they're wrong.

Don't know the answer to that. Have you tried asking Drew Peterson?

[dragoro]

yeah a whole 200 feet.

[Scott]

These are things that start to happen more and more when they try to take control of our every move and become a police state wake up people before it is too late.

[MinisterP]

No donation, no picture, no activity other than an emergency is reason enough to leave a kid in a car. I have children and the baby is asleep in the car then I don't leave her in it I take her with me. If the weather is too bad or there are other reasons why I can't take her then I choose not to do (take a picture drop of $9).

Which is more important?

Never mind the fact that this "charitable" activity could easily have waited and certainly does not require you to double park.

This lady is full of crap.

Now I will say if the portion of the story concerning the kids being left at wall mart is true that is an issue. But quite frankly If you were arrested and I assume driven away wouldn't you say "hey what about my other kids?"

As always I never believe much of any story printed in the news. The media will say anything to gain publicity/$$$$

[Ex-Crestwood Resident]

None of this surprises me. Crestwood's Police Department has always been far less professional and up to standards than neighboring towns. None of the crime in Crestwood is ever in any of the local news blotters because, according to the nepotistic Mayor's office, Crestwood dosen't have any crime (they dont believe in reporting it like every other town) giving everyone a false sense of fairness and community. Just look at the shopping center that used to be Howell airport and tell anyone there's no crime. Ask Mr. Mayor about the permit process that he used to obtain that land. That towns government is more crooked than Harvey - it's just not advertised. Crestwood's police have long held the title of "rent a cop" because there's only a couple of full timers and everyone else is a part time Barney Fife. I moved to that town in 1968 as a child and left there 10years ago - nothing has changed. They have a property tax reimbursement (gag money) to keep people quiet about what really goes on there. Keep the money and train your police - perhaps to think on their own as an adult and not cocky belligerent juveneilles. Dont hold your breath on the apology. You are not dealing with a mentality that supports that capability.

[dragoro]

she was parked at front of store in fire lane. Your either making stuff up or just don't know what your talking about.

[Brava]

"In Illinois, parents who leave their children in a car out of sight and unattended by anyone at least 14 years old for 10 minutes or more can face child-endangerment charges that carry a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine."

Here's a mother trying to teach her daughters about the importance of giving to others less fortunate, instilling good moral values, and getting arrested as a result.

If she was not out of eyeshot of the vehicle, it doesn't appear that she broke the child endangerment law.

Why the police officer didn't simply issue a verbal warning and tell her to move her vehicle is astounding. Leaving the two girls unattended at the store is more akin to endangerment than what she did.

They should drop the case and leave this family alone.

[Tony]

Bull. I am sorry but she should be charged and to the full extent of the law. And if the car exposes the child to carbon monoxide while it is running then the car is to dangerous to drive anyways. 30 feet is a long way to be away from the car and alot can happen in the time that the mother would realize that something was going on with the vehicle and the child.

[Jim]

I I think they should suspend that officer for one month without pay during the Christmas Season, and look and see what other bogus citations he has on his record.

[Jim]

Thanks for the story, I just told my wife she and the kids are never to go to that walmart in Crestwood.

[Joe in Chicago]

as a dad, I look at it as no big deal, BUT the law is there to PREVENT accidents or misfortune. Her intentions were good! But the fact remains. I applaud the officer for citing her, BUT they needed to take custody of her kids, the fucking idiot cops were all trying to get their names in the paper, they forgot about the kids. We serve and protect WHO??? Those kids werent protected by overzealous police!!!NOW the fact remains EVERYONE IS SCREWED UP IN THIS!!!!!! uhg.....

[mom of many]

This is the most ridiculous article I have ever read!! Where is the commom sense anymore?
She was within eye sight and ear sight of her sleeping child. I think the police officers involved need to be investigated themselves for endangering the three older girls when they arrested their mother and abandoned them. This is one of those instances where PARENTS KNOW BEST. I hope the police officers involved are fired because of this.

[scott]

I wonder what it would be if a man did that while he was having visitation with his kids? I'll bet anything he'd be nailed to the cross by the police and the X-wife, labeled as irresponsible, not fit to be a father, and who knows what else. serves heer right.

[Bob R]

Just another case of a cop being put on the spot. I am a retired police officer, and have been in the same situtation many times. Here a concerned citizen calls the police doing the right thing, the cops arrive, and have the choice of chewing this mother out or arresting her. But if she is not arrested the concerned citizen complains that the cops are not doing thier job. After seeing the story on the local news, and reading about it in your paper, it probably could have been handled differently, the mom could have cooperated with the officer, but she did not, the officer did his job on the other hand the officer could have used a little more common sense in handling this call. As for the other 3 kids, what were the officers thinking, they put those kids in more danger than the 2 year old was being in a locked car for 5 minutes. Well that is what you get with young PART TIME officers that Crestwood uses to keep its town safe. Its called lack of experience. In the end, both sides are at fault.

[Teresa]

Hummm.. No comment??? From either DCFS or the prosecutor? Seem's to be the case when there is nothing to talk about....AND there is nothing to talk about here.
5 min's is not 10 min's and she was not out of ear and eye shot. This is someone that is taking a job to another degree. There is always one in a crowd... we've seen them and some of have had to deal with them.
It isnt our fault that this is the only job that allows you to have a set of Brass one's....Get a life bud......

[Teresa]

AND.... if he is going to try and do a bang up job... he forgot about the other girls there, must a slipped his mind while his head was up the mothers bumm..... a million drug a dealers and purse snachers out there and he connects with a mother and her kid's trying to do a good deed.
An approperiate thing to do would have been to
1. Opoligize and walk away.
2. Realize he has made a terrible mistake...recant.
3.Admitt that it was a mistake instead of taking it to another level