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An Arizona behavioral therapist faces criminal charges after surveillance footage appears to show him kicking a 5-year-old nonverbal child during a one-on-one session at an autism therapy center. The case has renewed questions about oversight in settings that serve children who cannot easily speak for themselves.
Police and court records say 42-year-old Adolfo Salas was fired from Soar Autism Center in Peoria after an incident on June 1. Staff members notified law enforcement after reviewing video and messages tied to the session, according to local reports and court filings.
What authorities say happened
According to police, Salas was working with a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with nonverbal autism when the child began crying. Court records describe a sequence captured on center surveillance in which Salas appears to push a trash can away, then lift his right leg and strike the child in the face while the child remained on the floor.
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Investigators report the child cried out and was later found to have a bruise near his left eye. The child was taken to a hospital for evaluation and released the same day.
After the incident, court documents say Salas sent a message to a coworker using a tablet, requesting urgent help and saying he had “accidentally” kicked the child while intending to kick a chair. The footage and staff accounts contradict that explanation, prosecutors say.
Immediate fallout at the center
Soar Autism Center informed families by message that Salas was terminated immediately and that police were notified. The center told families it has “zero tolerance” for behaviors that threaten the safety of children in its care, according to a copy of the notice obtained by local media.
Staff described the child later having an emotional crisis in the room, during which he spat at the therapist and threw objects; court records indicate Salas then moved the child toward a wall.
Surveillance video and staff accounts have become central to the investigation because the child is nonverbal and cannot provide testimony about the encounter.
- Charge: Aggravated assault of a minor
- Arrest: Salas taken into custody at his home on June 4
- Bail: Set at $5,000; release would require an ankle monitor
- Workplace action: Immediate termination and police notification by Soar Autism Center
- Next court dates: June 10 and June 12
Deputy County Attorney Ashley Stetson told the court that without the recording there would be no independent advocate for the boy, emphasizing how critical video evidence is when the alleged victim cannot speak about the incident.
Salas appeared in court where judges ordered restrictions as part of potential pretrial release, including a ban on returning to his former job site and electronic monitoring. He remains charged pending further court proceedings.
Wider implications
Advocates for people with disabilities note that settings serving nonverbal children depend on rigorous staff screening, training and supervision. Experts say transparent reporting and accessible monitoring can be especially important when clients cannot verbalize abuse or mistreatment.
This case is unfolding in local courts and has drawn attention from families at the center and the broader community. Prosecutors say the surveillance footage and staff testimony will play a central role as the case moves forward.
Authorities continue to review the recordings and witness statements; no conviction has been entered and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
