Tinley Park Parks Superintendent Accused of Abusing Son

TINLEY PARK, IL -- A Tinley Park man is accused of physically abusing his young son because the boy was “playing around” instead of getting ready for school, prosecutors said. Ryan Veldman, 35, appeared before Cook County Judge Donald Havis on a felony charge of aggravated battery to a child under age 13. Velman is the superintendent of parks for the Tinley Park Park District.

According to the charges, Veldman shares custody with his ex-wife of his two minor sons in a home where he lives with his fiance and her two children in the 17000 block of Milford Avenue in Tinley Park. The morning of Jan. 12, the boy was “playing around” instead of getting ready for school. The prosecutor said Veldman hit the boy on the head with a folder. The boy called his father a name. Veldman allegedly approached the boy as he sat on the stairs tying his shoes, and grabbed him by the legs, pulling the boy down the stairs. The father slapped the child and threw him to the ground, the prosecutor said. During the alleged confrontation, Veldman is said to have placed his hands around the boy’s neck. The prosecutor said that the boy was still able to breathe. Veldman then took the children to school. The incident reportedly happened in front of Veldman’s stepson and stepdaughter, who are the children of his fiance.

After school, the boy went to his mother’s home and told her what happened, the prosecutor said. The boy’s mother took her son to the Tinley Park Police Department where the prosecutor said scrapes, bruises and red marks on the boy’s chest, back and neck were noted. The boy was also brought to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

Veldman’s attorney said that when the boy’s mother informed him that their children would not be returning to his home that evening, Veldman brought his court order to the Tinley Park police station, and told police that his ex-wife was violating his parenting time. The attorney said that her client was made to wait in the station lobby for several hours until police told him to go home. Veldman’s ex-wife also filed for an order of protection in Will County, which Veldman was to have contested Friday. Instead, his attorney said, Veldman was “pulled out of his home” at 6 p.m. Thursday and arrested. The order of protection has since been re-filed in Cook County.

“[Veldman and his ex-wife] have a very hostile relationship and they do not communicate well,” his attorney said. “He took the children to school, he did not try to hide them.”

Veldman has no prior criminal background. The attorney noted that there is no record of complaints made to the Illinois Department of Family Services regarding child abuse. She said Veldman and his fiance share one child together, and share a home with his fiance’s children and his sons, when not with their mother. The attorney said Veldman’s fiance denied that the alleged abuse took place. Veldman’s fiance and family members were present in court.

“This is a one-time occurrence, even if believed,” Veldman’s attorney told the judge. “He vehemently denies the charges.”

The judge released Veldman on a $10,000 I-bond. Veldman was also ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 18. Later, conditions were amended to no unsupervised contact because of children in the household. Veldman is due back in court March 1.

This story has been updated.

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