Moore Officer Accused Of Hitting Child Placed On Administrative Leave

A Moore family says a police officer crossed the line and assaulted their autistic son. He is a student at Central Junior High School where he often sees that officer.

The boy's mother does not want to use her name or her son's name.

The boy is 14 years old but has the mentality of a child half his age. He calls his mom when he's upset, and she can usually calm him down. Earlier this week, he called her from school.

"When I was on the phone with him, I heard the phone drop, and then the call dropped," she said.

He immediately called back.

"Hysterical. Crying that the police officer had hit him on the back," she said "And it hurts and mom don't get off the phone with me. Come and get me."

The boy's grandmother was nearby and picked him up from school. She pulled over down the road and took pictures of the boy's back.

"And there was a hand print from the officer on his back," his mother said.

"My son is autistic, and the officer knew it. He's had lots of contact with him."

They called the police later that day and made a report. They say they don't want what's happened to be minimized and say the officer should be held accountable just like anyone else.

"That's battery, and I just can’t accept that," she said. "He has a hard enough time being successful in school."

The family admits the boy was having a meltdown at school and was pounding on a keyboard as he talked to his mother on the phone, but that didn't give the officer the authority they say to hit him.

"He made a physical contact with my son, and it should have never happened," she said.

News 9 contacted the Moore Police Department. They say the matter is being investigated and the officer is on administrative leave.