E-Paper
Autism centre employee repeatedly throws 3-year-old to the ground, assault caught on camera
A three-year-old kid’s mother said she “screamed and cried” when she saw a video of an Autism centre employee throwing her son to the ground.
A horrific video of an Autism centre employee repeatedly throwing a three-year-old to the ground has surfaced on social media. 25-year-old Arianna Williams has been charged with “malicious punishment of a child” after the incident came to light.
The footage, taken inside the Sunrise Autism Center in Burnsville, Minnesota, shows Williams grabbing the boy and throwing him to the ground. She keeps throwing the kid repeatedly.
Also Read: NJ dad, who is charged with murder, forced 6-year-old son to run on treadmill, saying he was 'too fat'
(WARNING: Some viewers may find the following video disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.)
How did social media users react?
The footage enraged social media users who condemned the woman. “Geez. Don’t these m***** realise there are cameras everywhere? Centres serving those helpless or unable to respond must be thorough when hiring and ensure background checks are complete. That poor child,” posted an X user.
“Thank goodness for cameras. These people should never be alone or unsupervised if they're a new hire. You don't know them from Adam. I hope she is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Never allowed around children again,” added another.
“I’m so sick of seeing this sort of c***! Some people are just plain evil!” joined a third.
“Life in prison for Arianna Williams. What’s scary is how often stuff like this goes on but isn’t reported. What’s also scary is that teachers and faculty at schools do similar or worse to kids, which never gets punished. Be careful who you entrust your children to,” wrote a fourth.
Also Read: Baby dies after mother in US mistakenly puts her in oven instead of crib
Farhiya, the Somali-American mom of the kid, told WCCO that she “cried and screamed” after she saw the video of her son. She enrolled her son in the centre after he was diagnosed with autism last year.
As per the outlet, the now-former worker charged with the assault, reportedly sent a text to a coworker after getting fired. "I'd never purposely hurt anyone I was just having a really bad start to the week,” she wrote.
The centre said that Williams was immediately fired and they also called the police. In a statement, the centre added that they are “cooperating with the investigation, and their priority remains the safety and wellbeing” of their clients.
