Lake Co. bus driver charged with sexually assaulting child

A 74-year-old Round Lake Beach man has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child in October, police said.

Clarence "Skee" W. Ratzke, 74, of 1512 North Ave., was arrested and charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child Oct. 9, Round Lake Beach Deputy Chief Rich Chiarello said.

Ratzke works as a school bus driver in Grayslake Elementary District 46, but police officials say the sexual assault did not involve any district students.

Chiarello said Round Lake Beach police were contacted by the Department of Children and Family Services and asked to investigate a claim against Ratzke. He said the victim's family was contacted in July during the investigation, but did not reconnect with police until September.

Charges were filed following interviews with the victim and Ratzke, Chiarello said. Ratzke remains in Lake County jail in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Brad Goldstein, the chief school business official for District 46, said Ratzke was a bus driver for Durham School Services, the subcontractor hired by the district. Ratzke has worked for Durham and driving a bus at District 46 since 1999, Goldstein said.

Durham spokeswoman Tiffini Bloniarz said Ratzke is on administrative leave and has not driven a bus since he was arrested.

"If convicted, there are grounds for termination," she said.

Goldstein said the district has requested Ratzke no longer drive a bus for District 46.

"We have indicated to Durham that we want him removed from all routes pending the outcome of this situation," Goldstein said. "But, there is absolutely no indication there were any incidents with any children at District 46."

Goldstein added Durham routinely checks violent and sex offender lists in the state to ensure their drivers are not charged with crimes. He added Ratzke passed the most recent check on Sept. 24, 2008.

"We are holding an internal investigation to determine how this happened," he said. "We believe Durham Jones did due diligence in the hiring of this person as he was screened two weeks before the arrest was made."