Union: Florida officer aiming at patient

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. -- The North Miami police officer who shot and wounded an unarmed black mental health worker earlier this week was actually aiming at the man's autistic patient and trying to protect the worker, the head of Miami-Dade County's police union said.

The officer was identified Friday as Jonathan Aledda, who has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Separately, City Manager Larry Spring Jr. said Friday that commander Emile Hollant was suspended without pay for allegedly fabricating information about the shooting, but he declined to give specifics.

John Rivera, who runs the Miami Police Benevolent Association, told reporters Thursday that Aledda is a decorated, four-year veteran of the police force and a member of the SWAT team. The Police Department said on its Facebook page Thursday evening that the officer is a 30-year-old Hispanic. Earlier in the day, Chief Gary Eugene said the agency will be transparent as the investigation unfolds.

The admission by Rivera and the officer was intended to help calm the fears of the nation after a rash of police shootings of black men. Rivera said the officer fired three times and hit 47-year-old Charles Kinsey in the leg.

Kinsey, who was trying to coax the 27-year-old autistic man, who was seen with something in his hand, back to a group home he'd run away from, is recovering from his injuries. Kinsey's attorney, Hilton Napoleon II, said he is already talking to North Miami city officials about a monetary settlement for his client, who is married with five children. City officials did not return a phone call seeking confirmation.

Monday's shooting comes amid weeks of violence involving police.

Five officers were killed in Dallas two weeks ago and three law enforcement officers were gunned down Sunday in Baton Rouge. Before those shootings, a black man, Alton Sterling, 37, was fatally shot during a scuffle with two white officers at a convenience store there. In Minnesota, 32-year-old Philando Castile, who was also black, was shot to death during a traffic stop. Cellphone videos captured Sterling's killing and the aftermath of Castile's shooting, prompting nationwide protests over the treatment of blacks by police.

But Monday's shooting highlights the difficulties officers have in identifying people with autism. The characteristics of autism range from mild quirks or obsessions to people who can't communicate, yell and occasionally become violent.

National groups such as the Autism Society and Autism Speaks help train officers, paramedics and other first responders to recognize autistic traits.

"This is not Down syndrome -- autism is not a disorder that is visual," said Teresa Becerra, executive director of the Autism Society's Florida operation.

Becerra said she watched cellphone video of the moments before the shooting and believed she probably would have recognized that Kinsey's client was autistic.

"But I have been highly trained," she said.

She said she understands why police may have missed the signals, even though the therapist said he told officers the man was autistic and that he had a toy truck.

For 10 years, she has been educating South Florida officers with the help of her 20-year-old autistic son Robert, whom she said is much like the man in the video in that he can be loud and not follow orders.

"When Robert is not walking on his tip toes and not flapping his hands, we look just like a mom and her 20-year-old son walking down the street. But give it three minutes and they will learn that it can be very hairy being in public with my son," she said.

She said she has trained North Miami officers, but doesn't know if the ones involved in the shooting have taken her classes.

Pensacola police Sgt. Jimmy Donohoe, who also teaches classes for the Autism Society, said officers shouldn't be expected to be "roadside clinical evaluators" -- but there are characteristics to recognize. He has a 23-year-old son who is autistic.

Like Becerra's son, he said people with autism often flap their hands when upset or repeat words that have been spoken to them.

"The officer might say, 'Put your hands on the car' and the person will respond 'Put your hands on the car,'" he said.

If an officer doesn't recognize that behavior as autism, he could think the person is talking back. The situation could escalate and some people with autism react violently when touched, Donohoe said.

"One of the things we stress is officer safety. In these instances, they need to be more aware that the person is more likely to react spontaneously, even if unprovoked. You are dealing with the unexpected," he said.

Donohoe said he tells officers and firefighters that their uniforms can be scary and trigger an emotional meltdown. He said he tells them to stay calm and slow down their actions, realizing it takes people with autism longer to process information.

"By being a little more patient, the situation will work itself through," he said.

Becerra said she suggests that officers hand the autistic person a cellphone or other device.

"Our kids love electronics," she said.

Information for this article was contributed by Eric Tucker of The Associated Press.

A Section on 07/23/2016

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