Cops: Troubled teen needs confinement

The 29-year-old mother says her other four children are well-behaved.

By PATRICIA MEADE

VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — Rather than charging a mother with violating the parental responsibility ordinance, police want a juvenile judge to confine the woman’s troubled teenage daughter.

Detective Sgt. John Perdue, commander of the Family Services Investigations Unit, said the 13-year-old Shehy Street girl, arrested on charges of burglary and child endangering, needs to be confined to ensure that she takes her medication.

The girl was taken into custody this past week after police said she attacked a pregnant neighbor.

After the girl’s arrest, Malitsa Santiago, 29, was charged with violating parental responsibility. Police who have been sent to the home many times said the mother has repeatedly failed to control her daughter. A pretrial hearing is set for Nov. 15 in municipal court.

City Prosecutor Jay Macejko said he will move to have the charge dismissed next week.

“Ms. Santiago was cited into court by officers by way of summons and, as a result, this case did not go through the normal notice and screening process,” Macejko said Friday.

“Aside from a question as to whether verbal notice will suffice under the ordinance, it appears that charges may not have been appropriate in this case after speaking with juvenile detectives,” he continued. “It’s now my understanding that this child has been involved with social services and counseling and that the family has been doing their best to cope with whatever problems the child is facing.”

Hopefully, he said, juvenile court will intervene and provide the appropriate degree of care needed for this child — as she should be the focus, rather than her mother.

Santiago, a working single mom, said she has no behavioral problems with her four other children. She said “the system” here has failed her daughter, who is bipolar and has anger issues.

“I want people to know that I’m not a horrible mother,” Santiago said.

The girl’s grandmother, Lillian Santiago, said they’ve asked for a special school like the child attended when they lived in Illinois.

meade@vindy.com