A 16-year-old autistic teenager has turned himself in after he allegedly had an altercation and attacked a Burbank police officer during a traffic stop. The teenager was said to be subdued with pepper spray and a Taser during the confrontation with the officer.
The mother of the teen claimed at a press conference that the actions of the officer caused her son with autism to act the way he did. The mother, identified as Tawnya Nevarez, said in a statement, "Seeing my child on the ground being Tased by a police officer was the worst moment of my life."
She and her son went to the Burbank Police Department station on Friday. The teen was then booked into the juvenile system. He was released after being cited and is facing a possible felony charge in connection to the alleged attack last July 8.
KTLA 5 added that the mother of the teenager with autism insists that her son was the victim as the officer did not have to use pepper spray and a Taser. The attorney of the Nevarez family, Areva Martin, added that the teenager had a seizure and the mother witnessed all of it not being able to do anything.
Nevarez was approached by the officer last Friday near Burbank Boulevard and Hollywood Way and told the officer beforehand that her son has special needs. The teen also told the police officials that he forgot to put his seat belt on. Navarez added that they were in a rush to get to her destination and that she wanted to talk to her son before the officer would continue. However, the officer reportedly continued to talk to them aggressively then the incident escalated resulting to the teen allegedly attacking the officer.
Burbank police Sgt. Claudio Losacco said that the teenager pushed open the car door striking the officer in the knee and the leg. The mother reportedly tried to stop her son but he was still able to get out and attack the officer again.
The release added that the teen said he would only put his seat belt on if the policeman stepped back from the vehicle. The teenager did what he said but allegedly started to use profanity and told the officer to call for back up as he would fight him at that time. The officer used a pepper spray but the teen allegedly punched the officer on the head and upper body multiple times. That was the time when the officer used a Taser.
It is unclear when the first court appearance will be.
