SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man accused of assaulting a man who has autism.
Saloum Cisse, 28, works for the Autism Treatment Center on the northeast side. He was in a classroom on April 26 with a patient who spat on him, according to other staff.
According to an affidavit, Cisse then took the patient into another room away from the rest of the class and punched him in the head multiple times.
Surveillance video of the facility reportedly shows Cisse checking the hallway multiple times to see if anyone is present before returning to attack the victim’s head.
In a written statement, San Antonio Director of the Autism Treatment Center Ivy Zwicker emphasized their commitment to the safety of the people they serve, as well as stressed the speed of the organization's response.
"Our administration responds very quickly to issues needing our attention," writes Zwicker. "This event was no exception and ATC administration immediately responded to the situation and ensured the individual was thoroughly examined and received the immediate care from our medical team."
A warrant for Cisse’s arrest was issued, charging him with felony Injury Disabled – Bodily Injury. Cisse was arrested Wednesday morning in Bexar County.
Read the full statement from the Autism Treatment Center below:
"As always, our first and foremost concern is for the safety of the individuals we serve. This is a very difficult situation. For 40 years, Autism Treatment Center has supported children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. We have an extensive interviewing and selection process that includes ensuring every person we employ has received thorough and routine criminal history background checks, to include several national registries and fingerprinting, as well as drug testing prior to extending an offer of employment. Those selected undergo over 80 hours of training prior to beginning their position. ATC also continues to conduct criminal background checks on all of our employees on an annual basis after they are hired.
We do everything we can to ensure the safety and well being of our individuals. This includes having low staff to student ratios and providing camera systems in all programming areas. Our administration responds very quickly to issues needing our attention. This event was no exception and ATC administration immediately responded to the situation and ensured the individual was thoroughly examined and received the immediate care from our medical team. Simultaneously, the person in question was immediately removed from the premises and ATC immediately reported the event to the authorities, parents and other appropriate agencies. The individual in our care did not sustain physical injuries related to this event. He is safe and doing well. I can tell you, I am grateful for the video monitoring system that allowed us to respond immediately and ensure the student was brought to safety. Our administrative team is cooperating fully with the authorities and will continue to do so. This is all the information I have at this time."
