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NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) -- Three New York police officers are accused of slamming an autistic teen to the ground and punching him in the face for no apparent reason, a lawsuit filed Friday says. The lawsuit accuses the three officers of impinging on the teen's rights by physically attacking, assaulting and battering him without justification or cause.
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On Nov. 12, 17-year-old Troy Canales was leaning against a vehicle in front of his Bronx home when the three police officers arrived and asked him what he was doing, court documents say.
The teen is described as having the physical attributes of a young man his age, but the "affect and demeanor of someone much younger due to his autism." The lawsuit says that due to his autism, the teen often becomes "nervous and anxious" when speaking to strangers and may not make eye contact with them. He becomes even more fearful when a stranger approaches him aggressively.
Canales reportedly told the officers he wasn't doing anything wrong, he was just "chilling."
The police officers allegedly, "without warning or just cause, each grabbed [Canales'] arms and forcefully threw him down onto the sidewalk, smashing his head against the concrete," the lawsuit says. The officers "kneed [Canales] in the back and punched him in the face as he screamed to his family for help."
Canales' brother and mother ran outside when they heard him screaming, but were ignored by the officers when they asked why he was being arrested, the lawsuit says. They repeatedly told the officers the teen had autism.
Canales was taken to the precinct, where his mother spoke to a commanding officer and explained that her son was autistic. He was released after about an hour in custody.
The teen was not charged with any crimes and the only explanation the family received for his arrest was that one of the officers said he "feared for his life," court documents say.
Since his arrest, Canales is now afraid to go outside and becomes even more anxious when he sees a police officer or a police car. The lawsuit says his behavior around police officers now may make him seem even more suspicious and draw more attention to him.
Canales' lawyer, Carmen Giordano urged the New York Police Department to more adequately train its officers on how to approach people with autism and other disabilities.
Canales seeks unspecified monetary damages.
