A Waukee man was arrested on a Dallas County warrant Tuesday in connection with an incident last week in which he allegedly left his 2-year-old and 3-year-old children alone at home for as long as eight hours.
Justin Michael Van Wyk, 28, of 8925 Cascade Ave., Waukee, was charged with two counts of child endangerment.
The incident began April 14 about 1 a.m. at a residence in the 8900 block of Cascade Avenue, where officers of the West Des Moines Police Department responded to a report of an unattended child.
The officers found a 3-year-old alone outside an apartment and a 2-year-old alone in a crib inside the apartment, according to court records.
Both children had soiled diapers, and “there was no food or water readily available for the children, nor was there facilities out that would allow them to reach food or water,” according to court records.
The officers were able to make contact with the children’s mother, who “arrived to take custody of the children,” according to court records. The mother told the officers that Van Wyk “took possession of the children” about 1 p.m. the day before and “was supposed to be caring for the children as part of their custody agreement.”
Surveillance video showed Van Wyk’s vehicle leaving the residence about 9 p.m., according to court records. The mother stayed with the children at Van Wyk’s residence until 5 a.m., and Van Wyk “never came back to the residence.”
A warrant for Van Wyk’s arrest was ordered Monday in Dallas County District Court and served Tuesday. Van Wyk was held in the Dallas County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 5 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
