Neighbors, parents spar over autistic boy

SAN MARCOS, Calif., April 28 (UPI) -- A San Marcos, Calif., couple say three neighbors have responded with unreasonable fear toward their 4-year-old autistic son.

Gary and Marla Trussle, say they believe the three are discriminating against the boy, Spencer, because he has autism, KGTV in San Diego reported Tuesday.

The neighbors said they feared Spencer "might come out with a firearm at any time," the broadcaster said.

"I thought they had lost their minds," Marla Trussle said.

The three neighbors, identified as Sarah Fisher, Danielle Harway and Kelly Plaster, went to court seeking to have the Trussle family, including Spencer, restricted to their own home and driveway, but a judge threw out the case, KGTV said.

Fisher reported the Trussles to state Child Protective Services and called Gary Trussle's employer, Continental Airlines, where he's a captain, and made a 911 call, saying he couldn't control his young children, the station said. But, it said, San Diego sheriff's officials declined to write a report and CPS dropped the case as unsubstantiated.

KGTV said a reporter approached the three neighbors, but that Plaster and Harway went into a house and Fisher said "No, thank you" when asked if she wanted to comment.