More than three weeks after a 16-year-old boy with autism was arrested at a St. Albert playground, his household remains to be “mortified” and “flabbergasted” by the actions of RCMP.
Ryley Bauman was taken into custody at Albert Lacombe Catholic Elementary School on Oct. 2.
RCMP mentioned they acquired “a number of complaints” a few “man” who was “erratic” and will have been on medicine.
“We do not know what occurred however he does say ‘police hurts,'” mentioned his mother Laura Hawthorne, including her boy is “traumatized.”
“I’ve by no means had anybody suppose that he was on medicine. He’s very typical of autism, virtually textbook. So I simply did not perceive. I nonetheless do not perceive.”
His household says Ryley was visiting his grandparents on the time. He advised them he was going to go to the “swings” behind their house between dinner and dessert. The boy usually goes to that park by himself, and his mother and father say there have by no means been any points earlier than.
Ryley is technically non-verbal, however his household defined that he does converse some phrases and might reply questions; it simply takes him further time to reply. They described him as a really timid and empathetic particular person.
RCMP mentioned Ryley was unable to determine himself, so he was arrested for “his security and that of the general public.”
Aaron Krause and Laura Hawthorne talk about their son Ryley Bauman (Jay Rosove/CTV National News).
The household mentioned a digicam on the grandparents house exhibits that police arrived on the park and left all inside six minutes. They are upset that officers didn’t try and canvass the world to see the place Ryley got here from, since his grandparents can see the park from their window.
“While in police custody on the St. Albert detachment, within the cells, the male started participating in self hurt. St. Albert RCMP officers instantly contacted EMS, who attended and offered first support earlier than transporting him to the hospital,” Insp. Ryan Comaniuk advised reporters on Oct. 8.
The household discovered the place Ryley was solely after calling 911 to report that he was lacking.
‘NOT AS HAPPY AS HE WAS’
Ryley’s mood has modified for the reason that incident, his dad mentioned, including his boy is anxious and scared to return to his grandparents’ house.
“He’s not as completely happy as he was. He’s pulled again into himself,” Aaron Krause mentioned.
The household launched a GoFundMe and has employed a lawyer. RCMP have launched an inner evaluate and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating the actions of police.
An ASIRT replace final Wednesday mentioned a 911 caller reported a “youthful male” that was in his “early 20s” who could have had “some severe handicap” or be on medicine.
An apology from the RCMP has not been issued. That can be good, the household mentioned, however what they really need is for policing in Canada to alter.
They need extra psychological well being specialists paired with officers and really feel RCMP ought to be approaching conditions like Ryley’s with “compassion” somewhat than “worry.”
“The greatest apology can be to make sure it does not occur to Ryley once more or any of the opposite folks that we all know and love which can be on the (autism) spectrum,” Hawthorne mentioned.
CTV News Edmonton contacted each the RCMP and ASIRT for an replace on their investigations Thursday however neither would supply any new data.
With information from CTV National News’ Bill Fortier and CTV News Edmonton’s Joe Scarpelli