A disturbing video from inside an autism center in Burnsville has surfaced, showing a 3-year-old being assaulted repeatedly.
Arianna Williams, 25, has been charged with malicious punishment of a child in connection with the incident.
The surveillance footage from Sunrise Autism Center captures the young boy playing in a corner before Williams forcefully grabs his hand and throws him to the ground. The child tries to stand up but is thrown down again by Williams.
The shocking assault continues as Williams lifts the child up and then violently throws him to the ground for a third time.
A concerned mother, Farhiya, who preferred not to show her face and spoke in Somali to WCCO’s Ubah Ali, expressed her distress upon seeing the video.
Her son, diagnosed with autism last year, had only been attending the center for a week before the assault occurred.
Farhiya is devastated that this happened to her son, who is unable to communicate what happened to him.
According to charging documents, Williams was a new hire at the autism center and it was her first day allowed to work with children unsupervised.
After her termination, Williams allegedly texted a co-worker, claiming she never intended to hurt anyone and was having a difficult start to the week.
Sunrise Autism Center promptly fired Williams upon learning of the incident and contacted law enforcement. They have stated that their top priority is the safety and wellbeing of their clients.
Farhiya expressed gratitude for the center’s swift action but stated that her trust has been shattered. She is uncertain about sending her child back to a center and believes her home may be the safest place for her children.
This incident has raised serious concerns about childcare standards and the safety of vulnerable children in such facilities.
