Charges dropped against Tinley Park woman who left child in car

Charges dropped against Tinley Park woman who left child in car

www.chicagotribune.com

While a Tinley Park woman celebrated, the Crestwood police chief said he was disappointed that prosecutors Thursday dropped charges of child endangerment and obstruction of justice against her for leaving her toddler asleep in a parked car.

"We're not happy with the decision...she clearly refused to cooperate with our officers that night, and we believe this sends the wrong message to the public," police Chief Timothy Sulikowski said. "We stand behind our officers and the decision they made that night to protect the welfare of that child."

Ellen "Treffly" Coyne, 36, appeared Thursday afternoon in the Bridgeview branch of Cook County Circuit Court, where Assistant State's Atty. Peggy Gill-Curtin told Judge James J. Ryan that "based on the completed investigation into all the facts of the case, the state has concluded it would be unable to meet the burden of proof at trial."

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[edit on 14-3-2008 by Agent Styx]

The very fact that someone one even charge this woman for this is beyond me. If the story is how it seems in this article, I find that the police are once again being overzealous in their duty. And the cop says that this sends the wrong messege, I have to just say that you cant make a statement with someone's life. If they are innocent, or you can't prove anything, then so be it. That is the way our justice system works.

www.chicagotribune.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

tHIS IS THE perfect example that now up is down

and down is up.



Swat teams for old ladies and a slap on the wrist for abuse.

Yes, it all makes sense.

I love the chief's comment about the woman not cooperating with the police officer. If the officer is acting like an idiot then what do they expect?
Of course, what they do expect is for all of us to bow down and do as we are told, not question their authority, even if they are wrong (which they never are).

I'm very happy to see they've dropped the charges. Not that I thought they had a case anyhow...obviously the Assistant State Attorney thought the same thing. This was a total over reaction on the police officers part. If I was this woman I would turn around and sue the police for leaving my two other kids at the Walmart by themselves for several hours.

I do not condone parents leaving kids in the car for lengthy times, or to run into the store to "just grab some milk". But when I'm standing within 50 feet of my car for a few minutes, there's nothing wrong with that. It's silly and possibly unsafe to pull your kids out of the car in every situation.

Michelle

i've actually heard of this happening when the car was parked in the driveway at home. some lady left her kid in the car so she could run in and get something she had forgotten. somehow she got caught. it's heresay at this point since i don't feel like digging up the old article, but yeah...messed up.

I can understand maybe in the summer this may be an issue, but I cant recall a time I wasnt left in the car, or asked to stay in the car while my parents went shopping. I hated going in there.