Two Charged with Endangering Children

By Pam DeFiglio

Michael Martinek, 49, of Des Plaines and Vanessa Clark, 24, of Chicago were charged with endangering the life and health of a child Aug. 7, after someone called police in the early afternoon to report Martinek was stumbling, and even fell once, as he pulled two children to the park in a red wagon, according to the police report.

Police responded and Martinek told police he cared about where the dog was, but not the children. Police said there was no running water or gas in the house, and that it was very hot in the house.

Police contacted the children’s mother, and took Martinek to the police station, where the children were cared for. The children’s mother, Clark, came to the station and said she had dropped off the children with Martinek while she went to see her other son.

She said she did not know Martinek had been drinking, nor that the water and gas were turned off in the house, according to the report. Police advised her it was her responsibility to leave the children with responsible caregivers. 

Police contacted the state Department of Children and Family Services, and a caseworker interviewed the children and made arrangements for placement.

Clark and Martinek have a court date Aug. 30 in Skokie.