Dr. Frank Ostir Reunited With Child Who Fell Out His Car: Judge

JOLIET, IL — Long-time Joliet chiropractor Dr. Frank Ostir, who was arrested by Shorewood police on two counts of child endangerment in March after police say a 2-year-old boy fell out of his car on River Road, is now reunited the child, according to a judge's ruling.

In June, Ostir's, lawyer, Chris Rouskey of the Rouskey Law Offices on Joliet's South Hammes Avenue, filed an affidavit with the court from Brittany Jenkins, the child's mother. She and Dr. Ostir began dating in the summer of 2020 and at the time, she was unaware of her pregnancy with the minor child, according to court documents.

Brittany Jenkins and Ostir have lived together in Shorewood "on a continual, conjugal basis since I moved into his residence in October of 2020," her affidavit noted. And "the defendant, Frank J. Ostir, has been providing for me financially and emotionally since we have been together and "defendant Frank J. Ostir has been providing for and caring for the minor child ... since he was born."

According to Jenkins' affidavit, "the minor child ... has developed strong ties to and is very attached to the defendant, Frank J. Ostir," while "the biological father of the minor child ... has had no contact with myself since he was advised that he was going to be a father."

Jenkins informed the judge that "defendant Frank J. Ostir is the only 'father' that the minor child ... has known" and "it is in the best interests of the minor child ... that the defendant, Frank J. Ostir, be allowed to be a part of his life on a daily basis."

According to the motion to modify Ostir's bond, his lawyer noted that his bail was set at $10,000, of which bond was posted and that as a condition of bond, Ostir was ordered to remain away from the presence of the minor child during his pending criminal court proceedings.

The boy was 1 year, 10 months old at the time of the incident.

Ostir's lawyer argued, "Frank Ostir respectfully maintains that it is beneficial to said minor child that he remain involved in said minor child's life to the extent exercised prior to the incident ... the defendant would agree not to transport the minor child in a motor vehicle pending resolution of these proceedings ... defendant Frank Ostir is 57 years old of age, a productive member of society and has no prior criminal convictions," Rouskey noted.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office opposed the efforts by Dr. Ostir and his lawyer to let him reunite with the 2-year-old child, by the Will County judge overseeing the case disagreed.

According to court records, the court heard testimony from the child's mother and arguments from the lawyers, "it is hereby ordered the bond is modified to allow defendant contact with said child provided the mother is present during such contact. Defendant shall not operate a motor vehicle with the child as a passenger. Defendant shall comply with all recommendations of DCFS."

Ostir's case is assigned to Courtroom 301, and according to the Will County website, that is the courtroom of Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre. Ostir's child endangerment case is set for a final plea or trial setting on Sept. 22.

In March, Joliet Patch broke the news that the well-known Joliet chiropractor had a warrant for his arrest on two counts of child endangerment after a little boy almost 2 years old fell out of Ostir's car on River Road near Wheatland Drive, according to Shorewood police.

Shorewood police said they were notified of the incident by another motorist around 2:35 p.m. on Feb. 13.

"The female caller saw a small child fall out of the back door of a vehicle. She was driving behind him while it happened," deputy police chief Jason Barten said at the time of the arrest. "The child fell out of the rear passenger seat, the driver stopped, got out and picked up the child and put him back on his lap and left the scene."

Ostir lives in the 1100 block of Rushwood Avenue in the Country West subdivision of Shorewood.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Boy Falls Out Of Car On River Road, Joliet Chiropractor Faces Charges

Dr. Frank Ostir Surrenders To Shorewood Police