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 accused of assaulting a child with special needs, leading to serious allegations and his subsequent dismissal from employment.
Adolfo Salas, 42, lost his job at the Soar Autism Center in Peoria, Arizona, after an incident reportedly took place on June 1. According to court documents accessed by KPHO, a CBS local affiliate, Salas was working one-on-one with a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with nonverbal autism. During this session, Salas sent an alarming message to a former colleague via a tablet, saying, “I accidentally kicked him in the face.”
Authorities reported that Salas claimed he had aimed to kick a chair but mistakenly struck the child. However, surveillance footage presented a different narrative.
Footage obtained by KSAZ, a Fox affiliate, depicts Salas engaging with the child in what seemed to be a routine activity, showing him how to dispose of waste in a garbage can. The boy, visibly distressed and crying, was being guided by Salas, who thanked him while taking the trash can away. The video then appears to show Salas lifting his right leg and kicking the boy, who was on all fours, in the face. As per police accounts, the child’s cries intensified following the kick, and a noticeable bruise formed near his left eye.
After the alleged assault, Salas reportedly stared at the boy, who entered an “emotional crisis.” The situation escalated as the child spat at Salas and threw items at him, prompting Salas to corner the boy against a wall.
The child was subsequently taken to the hospital for examination and later discharged.
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.
