Surveillance footage captured an incident on Long Island involving a home health aide allegedly harming a child with cerebral palsy. According to ABC7NY, the event occurred around 12:30 p.m. on December 20 at a residence in Port Jefferson. The aide, 31-year-old Bruno Valenzuela, is accused of repeatedly slapping the child, Maverick, who reportedly began coughing and crying during the incident.
Valenzuela, who was formerly employed by the Christian Nursing Registry in Smithtown, was charged with multiple offenses following his arrest, as reported by ABC7NY. The agency stated that they were surprised by the allegations and noted that Valenzuela had previously maintained a positive relationship with the family and the child. Reports indicate that the family continues to use the agency for their son's care.
Additional details from FOX5NY coverage show the video capturing Valenzuela slapping the child more than ten times, with the child’s body visibly shaking and crying. Suffolk County police stated that Valenzuela faces a class E felony for endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, in addition to the charge of endangering the welfare of a child.
Following the incident, the family has been seeking justice for Maverick. His father, Christopher Brower, described his son as “a fighter” and stated that he “doesn’t deserve this,” ABC7NY reported. The Christian Nursing Registry confirmed that all of Valenzuela’s HR documents, including his background check, were up to date. With Valenzuela’s arrest, authorities continue to investigate and are asking the public to provide any additional information about potential victims.
