Teachers Aide Beat Autistic Student With Ruler In Basement: Suit

NEW YORK CITY — A teachers aide accused of beating an autistic student with a ruler in a Brooklyn public school basement is being sued by the young man's father, court records show.

The outraged dad filed suit in Brooklyn Federal Court Friday against P. S. K721 paraprofessional Aries Baluyot about one year after his son said he'd been lured into the bowels of the Gravesend school and beaten, the complaint says.

A. W., as the 21-year-old is identified in court records, first spoke of the alleged attacks when his father spotted a large bruise on his son's leg and thigh two days later on Dec. 20, according to the complaint.

His father questioned A.W. and discovered he'd twice been attacked on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, the lawsuit says.

A.W. has autism and an I.Q. of 71, which the suit argues is both why he was targeted and why he didn't immediately tell his dad what happened.

"Baluyot attacked A.W. because he knew that A.W. was vulnerable," the suit reads.
"Unable to defendant himself, and likely unable to communicate to others about the attack."

Brian L. Bromberg, the attorney representing A.W., declined to comment on the case.

E.W., the boy's father, called police from the school on Dec. 21, at which point A.W. picked the paraprofessional out of a photo line-up and Baluyot was arrested, according to the complaint.

Baluyot was arraigned on assault charges in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Dec. 22. but was later granted an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal which resolved the charges, the suit alleges.

A Brooklyn District Attorney's office spokesperson said he was unable to provide comment because ACD cases are sealed.

Baluyot's attorney Sal E. Strazzulo did not reply to Patch's request for comment but reportedly said in arraignment court last December, “These charges are made up against my client."

The suit also alleges Baluyot remains a Department of Education employee but has since been removed from P.S. K721.

The civil suit demands a jury trial to address charges of unlawful seizure and assault against Baluyot and the liability of the Department of Education.

A Law Department spokesperson said, “We will review the complaint when we are served,” and the Department of Education did not immediately provide comment.