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Heated confrontation led to Desmond Clark arrest: police report

Former Chicago Bears tight end Desmond Clark cursed and used racially charged language in a heated confrontation at Vernon Hills High School that led to the arrests of Clark and his wife, a newly released police report shows.

The dispute left one school employee "shocked and terrified," according to the police report, which the Daily Herald acquired Tuesday through the Freedom of Information Act.

The police report detailing the Aug. 29 confrontation said Desmond and Maria Clark yelled at a school employee. Desmond Clark also cursed and repeatedly used a racial epithet and yelled about racial discrimination, it read.

Clark's attorney, Frank Avila, claims the couple is being unfairly prosecuted after complaining about racial taunts aimed at their 17-year-old son, who is a student at Vernon Hills High.

Avila called the charges "frivolous, absurd and wrongful," and said they should be dropped.

"It's a malicious prosecution," Avila said, adding the arrests might amount to a civil rights violation.

The confrontation with the school employee occurred during the school's Kick Off Dance. It was prompted by an administrative decision not to allow the Clarks' son to participate in a talent portion due to a prior school code violation, the police report read.

The dispute was witnessed by several people and captured on video, according to the police report.

The Clarks, who live in Vernon Hills, were arrested on warrants Sept. 11. Desmond and Maria Clark were charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Maria Clark also was charged with misdemeanor assault.

Avila insisted Maria Clark's comments to the employee that night weren't threats and therefore don't meet the required elements for an assault charge.

"She did not threaten her with violence," he said.

As for the disorderly conduct charges, Avila called them "very subjective and vague."

In a Facebook post before their arrests, Desmond Clark said the incident involved racial tension between the family and school administrators. Clark said his son was singled out and "implicitly called a bad student and a criminal."

In response, Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 officials released a statement Monday evening that takes exception with the way the situation has been handled in public.

"In recent days, the parents involved in this situation have raised concerns in the media about how their child was treated by students and staff at VHHS over the past few years," the statement said. "As any parent would expect the school to do, VHHS took those concerns seriously at the time they were raised, and addressed them accordingly."

Whatever issue the Clarks have, however, "there are appropriate forums in which to address those grievances beyond the way the parents chose to address the recent situation," the statement read.

Avila said the district's statement indicates officials are "glossing over the fact that they have not addressed the issues of racism, bullying and discrimination and of the maltreatment of the student at the high school and the Clark family."

Daily Herald staff writers Sara Hooker, Bob Susnjara and Steve Zalusky contributed to this report.

Maria Clark
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