Peekskill Man Accused Of Endangering Special Needs Man

CORTLANDT, NY — A Peekskill man was accused of slapping a special needs man.

The New York State Police said Jean T. Donatien, 64, of Peekskill, was arrested Saturday and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, a felony.

Police said, shortly before 3 p.m., troopers were sent to the Cortlandt Town Center, where callers were reporting a man striking another man with special needs in a van.

With the help of good Samaritans, police said they found that Donatien, who is an employee of Opengate, slapped and knocked the victim's head against the van window.

Opengate is a nonprofit that provides services for the developmentally disabled.

The man was not injured, police said.

Donatien was arraigned in the Town of Cortlandt Court and released on his own recognizance to reappear before the county May 13.

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