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Aaniyah Brown (Richmond County Sheriff’s Office).
In a disturbing incident at an autism therapy center in Georgia, a staff member was reportedly captured on video engaging in abusive behavior towards a young child. The footage allegedly shows the employee, Aaniyah Brown, forcefully pressing her foot into the back of a 5-year-old boy while he was lying on the floor, effectively holding him down.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has charged Brown, who worked at Circle City ABA, with first-degree cruelty to children. The incident is said to have occurred on April 28, and has drawn significant concern and attention from the community.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by WRDW, a local CBS affiliate, the security cameras at the therapy center recorded Brown stepping on the child and applying pressure to his face and back as he struggled to rise from the floor.
A bystander reportedly witnessed the troubling act and promptly alerted local authorities. The police were then called to the ABA center on that Tuesday, where they reviewed the incriminating video footage.
In her defense, Brown is said to have claimed that she used her foot defensively, attempting to keep the child from coming too close or potentially causing her harm, as reported by WRDW and WAGT. Nonetheless, she was apprehended and taken into custody at the Richmond County jail, facing serious charges for her actions.
“Our Augusta Autism therapy team encourages your child to play and learn while we assist them in making progress,” the Circle City ABA website says. “Services include direct and group ABA therapy located in playrooms, gross motor rooms, individual therapy rooms, and inviting workspaces equipped with clean toys, swings, and more.”
The website says Circle City ABA “employs experienced therapists who foster close connections with the children they serve, allowing them to help the kids reach their goals.” Brown’s job status with the Augusta center was unclear Monday. Center officials did not respond to Law&Crime’s requests for comment.
“With our professional staff, top-tier equipment, and modern facilities, we can help improve your child’s communication, daily living, and social skills, truly benefiting their lives,” the website adds. “Each child attending our Augusta autism therapy center full time will have a morning and afternoon therapist. If a therapist is absent, another team member familiar with the child will step in.”
Brown was released on a $22,000 bond and is awaiting her next court date.