Alexis Egeland reports at The Arizona Republic:
Police body-camera footage shows a Buckeye police officer detaining a 14-year-old boy with autism after he became suspicious of the boy, who was practicing one of his calming techniques at the time.
The Buckeye Police Department has said they think the officer reacted to a reasonable suspicion, but the family's attorney says there is insufficient training for officers to deal with people on the autism spectrum, something the boy's family would like addressed.
The footage, which the family attorney posted on YouTube on Sunday, shows an officer exiting his vehicle to approach the boy near Verrado Town Square and ask him what he's doing. The boy says he's "stimming" and holds up a piece of string.
We're demanding 3 things: 1) apology from officer; 2) community service from officer to autistic community; 3) training for all Buckeye PD.— Timothy Allen Scott (@ScottTrialLaw) September 18, 2017
If Buckeye PD does those 3 things, we will be flexible in resolving the boy's financial damages, but those 3 issues are mandatory.— Timothy Allen Scott (@ScottTrialLaw) September 18, 2017
