Dad charged with child endangerment for assaulting mom in front of kids (St. Clair County, Illinois)

Dad is identified as DERIUS JOHNSON. New research is documenting how profoundly damaged children really are by witnessing the assault of their primary caretaker, their mother.

http://www.kmov.com/news/crime/Father-charged-with-alleged-child-endangerment-after-kids-witness-domestic-incident-246957761.html

Father charged with child endangerment after kids allegedly witness domestic incident by

Elizabeth Eisele / KMOV Staff
Posted on February 24, 2014 at 4:39 PM Updated today at 7:01 PM

(KMOV.com) -- Authorities in Illinois have charged a father with child endangerment and domestic battery after police allege the man was involved in a domestic disturbance that happened in front of his children.

Caseyville Police said they were called to a domestic disturbance in progress at the America’s Best Inn in the 2400 block of Old County Inn Drive Thursday, February 6. Police said the suspected father fled the scene as officers arrived.

Then just after midnight, police said the suspect returned to the hotel where he was arrested.

Authorities have charged Derius Johnson, 24, with five counts of child endangerment after police allege Johnson’s five children witnessed the domestic disturbance.

Johnson was also charged with two counts of domestic battery and one count of criminal damage to property. Johnson is being held in the St. Clair County Jail on a $20,000 bond.