Two parents in Anaheim, California have been placed under arrest for keeping their 11-year-old son, who has severe autism, in a cage.
"Anaheim Police are speaking with relatives of an 11-year-old autistic boy who was found inside a dog cage at his home last night." [KNBC]
Police had received a tip on the matter and found the report to be true when they searched the house.
The enclosure was described as being similar to a large dog kennel, and police mentioned that it was big enough to contain a mattress and not force the boy into an "unnatural position"
"Sad and disturbing story. Really quite a bit of a shock for residents in this community, they really didn't see anything on the outside to indicate this was going on." [KABC]
It’s unclear at this time how often the child was placed in the cage.
When interviewed, the parents said they had a hard time caring for their son as he was unable to communicate and had frequent violent outbursts.
It’s believed they confined him as an effort to keep him under control.
Outside of the method they chose to contain the boy, he did not have any visible evidence of abuse.
He was found to be well fed and without injuries, but was taken to an area hospital for an examination to be sure.
The parents are facing felony charges, though it’s hoped that through the investigation process they’ll gain access to resources that can help them address their son’s needs.
