Suffolk County police charge man accused of slapping disabled child in Port Jefferson, NY
Suffolk County police have arrested a man accused of slapping a disabled child while in his care on Long Island last month.
Bruno Valenzuela, 31, is charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and endangering the welfare of a child.
Surveillance video captured the assault at the child's home in Port Jefferson around 12:30 p.m. on December 20.
Officials say Valenzuela, a home health aide who was employed by the Christian Nursing Registry in Smithtown, was caring for a 5-year-old boy with cerebral palsy when the child started coughing and crying. Valenzuela then slapped the child aggressively in the back and chest, police said.
The 5-year-old suffered bruises on his chest following the incident, prompting his family to take him to the hospital a few days later. A police report was subsequently made and an investigation was started by Special Victims Unit detectives.
Police arrested Valenzuela at his home in Brentwood on Thursday night. He is expected to be arraigned on Friday in Central Islip.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they could have a family member who is a victim of Valenzuela to contact the Special Victims Unit at 631-852-6184.
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