Police launched an investigation this week after a staff member at a local disability services agency was accused of striking a 19-year-old autistic male in her care.
The report was made by a supervisor with the agency, who told police that another employee alleged the staffer had physically harmed the teen earlier in the day. Both the supervisor and the reporting employee were on site and told officers they wanted to document the incident formally.
Timeline Raises Questions
According to police, the incident allegedly occurred during the afternoon shift change around 2 p.m., but the agency waited six to seven hours before contacting authorities. The delay in reporting, combined with a lack of physical evidence, complicated the investigation from the outset.
Officers noted:
- There were no witnesses to the alleged incident.
- There are no security cameras inside the residence.
- The teen had no visible injuries.
- Due to his disability, the teen was unable to provide a statement.
Conflicting Stories Emerge
When officers followed up with the staff member accused of wrongdoing, she denied the allegation and said she had never laid a hand on the teen. She acknowledged that he sometimes experiences aggressive outbursts, and that she has had to lock herself in another room for safety during those episodes.
She also claimed there was personal tension between herself and the employee who made the report, citing a romantic entanglement involving a mutual acquaintance and recent HR-related disputes.
No Charges Filed, For Now
After interviewing both staff members and the supervisor, officers concluded that the available evidence was insufficient to move forward with criminal charges. No incident report was filed beyond the initial complaint.