Inset: Adolfo Salas (Maricopa County Sheriff”s Office). Background: Surveillance video of the moment after Adolfo Salas allegedly kicked a child (KSAZ).
A former behavioral therapist in Arizona has been charged with assaulting a child in his care. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of children at the facility.
Adolfo Salas, 42, lost his job at Soar Autism Center in Peoria, Arizona, after he was accused of an altercation with a student on June 1. As reported by CBS affiliate KPHO, Salas was involved in a one-on-one session with a 5-year-old boy who has nonverbal autism. At some point, Salas sent an alarming message via a tablet to a colleague, admitting, “I accidentally kicked him in the face.”
Salas allegedly explained to the colleague that he intended to kick a chair but mistakenly hit the child. However, surveillance footage from the center told a different story.
Footage obtained by Fox affiliate KSAZ reveals Salas interacting with the boy in the middle of the room, seemingly instructing him on how to dispose of trash. According to court documents, the boy was visibly upset and crying. Despite this, Salas proceeded to remove the trash while saying, “Thank you.”
The video then appears to show Salas lifting his right leg and kicking the boy in the face while he was on the floor. Police noted that the child cried out after the alleged kick and had a noticeable bruise by his left eye. Following the incident, Salas reportedly glared at the boy as he experienced an emotional meltdown, during which the child spat at Salas and threw items before being cornered against a wall.
Police said the boy was brought to the hospital and then released.
During Salas’ first court appearance, Deputy County Attorney Ashley Stetson said, “Had there not been that recording, there would be no one to advocate for this child, for the child cannot communicate.”
Salas was arrested at his home on June 4 and charged with aggravated assault of a minor.
KPHO obtained a message sent from Soar Autism Center to the students’ families that said Salas was fired immediately and police were notified when they found out about the incident. The message read in part, “We have zero tolerance for this and any behavior that compromises the safety or well-being of the children entrusted to our care.”
His bail was set at $5,000 during his court appearance, and he was ordered to wear an ankle monitor if he was released. He was also ordered not to go to his former workplace. He is scheduled to appear in court again on June 10 and 12.