Child Abandonment In Joliet Tavern: Sheriff's Deputies Charge Lockport Dad

JOLIET, IL — The Will County Sheriff's Office has issued a Facebook bulletin that 45-year-old Lockport resident Steven Canady is back inside the Will County Jail because he abandoned his own child inside a Joliet bar after kicking the child earlier in the day, the agency revealed.

Will County said that deputies took Canady into custody and his charges consist of child abandonment, domestic battery and endangering the life or health of a child.

According to the sheriff's agency, at approximately 7:35 p.m. on Monday, deputies were dispatched to a bar in the 1800 block of East Washington Street in Joliet Township for an abandoned child.

Upon arrival, deputies found a toddler inside the establishment who had a visible injury to the upper lip. A concerned citizen told deputies that the child’s father had entered the bar earlier and asked patrons to watch his child. Fearing for the child’s safety, the resident agreed to care for the child and immediately called 911, Will County said.

The witness further reported that the child had dried blood on his face, which they had cleaned prior to deputies arriving. Deputies later reviewed photos taken earlier in the day that showed blood around the child’s nose and mouth. Witnesses and the child alleged that the injuries were the result of the father kicking the child, Will County revealed.

Medical care was provided on scene to the child by the East Joliet Fire Protection District. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was notified, and the child was safely released to relatives.