In The Politics of Autism, I write about the everyday struggles facing autistic people and their families, including violence against autistic children.
The man who was caught on video slapping an autistic boy in Pacoima now faces [misdemeanor] criminal charges.
Scott Sakajian, a Sun Valley resident, was charged with willful cruelty to a child and battery on a person, according to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.
Sakajian is accused of slapping Alfredo Morales, 10, after the boy touched the emblem on his Mercedes-Benz sedan on July 1.
Alfredo and his older sister, Claudia Morales, were crossing the street when the incident happened.
Sakajian made an immediate U-turn and followed the siblings to a bus stop. He stepped out, walked over to Alfredo who was sitting on a bench and slapped him.
His sister tried intervening and explained that Alfredo had autism, but the man still struck the boy.
Cell phone video of the confrontation went viral on social media, leaving community members outraged. The family also filed a police report.
Since the incident, Alfredo’s family, who is homeless and lives out of a broken truck, have been surrounded by an outpouring of support, with many saying they resonated with the story.
