Another Example Of CPS Neglecting Their Duties (Illinois) - Court order needed for CPS to take custody of abused teen

By Erin Guerra

PORTAGE — Child Protective Services initially refused to take custody of an abused 16-year-old, saying he has “anger problems,” according to a police report from the Sunday incident.

A CPS supervisor wanted Porter County Sheriff’s police to take the boy to a shelter instead of handing him off to CPS. Porter County Superior Court Judge Mary Harper issued a court order instructing the agency to accept responsibility for the teen.

Officers arrested the teen’s legal guardian, Waleed Blair, 49, of Burns Harbor, after witnesses saw him allegedly attack the youth at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday outside a grocery store in the 6000 block of Central Avenue. According to the arrest report, the 16-year-old was sitting on a bench outside when Blair wanted him to walk through the store with him. Blair slapped him in the face, threw him to the ground and choked him, an unnamed shopper told police.

Blair, who is a relative of the victim, was kneeling on top of him with his hand around his throat when police arrived. He refused to get up, was pulled off by an officer and was charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor battery.

Because the teen has no other local relatives, police called CPS to take care of him but a supervisor at the agency declined and suggested police take him to a Gary shelter for runaway youths, according to the police report.

Police then obtained a judge’s order to place the boy with CPS.

Source http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/porter/8985629-418/court-order-needed-for-cps-to-take-custody-of-abused-teen.html