Mom says son with autism had run-in with Buckeye officer that was 'excruciating'
09/22/2017 6:59 am PDT
By Dave Biscobing and Megan Thompson, KNXV
BUCKEYE, Ariz. -- (KNXV) -- The mother of a 14-year-old boy with autism, who was traumatized after a run-in with a Buckeye officer, says she never expected that what happened to her son would spark a national discussion.
Diane Leibel also said see police body camera video was also one of the hardest things she's ever had to do.
“It was excruciating honestly,” she said. “I've never heard my son scream like that before. I don't understand how it even got there.”
On July 19, a Buckeye Officer named David Grossman mistook Connor Leibel for a drug user. As he drove by a quiet neighborhood park, Grossman claimed he saw Connor putting his hand up to his face, giving him reasonable suspicion to handcuff and detain the boy.
The officer lost control of the situation.
It turned out Connor was using a small string to “stim” – a coping mechanism common for people with autism.
FULL STORY: Mom says autistic son's run-in with Buckeye officer was 'excruciating' - KNXV
