Do You Know Them? Newport Beach Police Seek Couple Who Allegedly Battered Autistic Boy

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — NBPD is seeking the public's assitance to identify a man and woman who shoved an autistic boy taking pictures in front of a Newport Beach residence.

On Saturday, September 17, 2016, at 7:25 p.m., the Newport Beach Police Department responded to the 1800 block of Balboa Boulevard in response to a report that a Battery had just occurred.

"A 16-year-old male juvenile with autism was seated in the back seat of a vehicle, which was parked on the curb line. At the time of the incident, his mother was inside a nearby home and two adult companions were seated outside the residence," Newport Beach Police Department information officer Jennifer Manzella said. "The juvenile was using an iPad to take several photos of the area."

Two passers-by became upset when the juvenile photographed them, according to Manzella. "The woman approached the vehicle and began yelling at the juvenile before proceeding to push him multiple times."

They boy's mother became alerted to the altercation by the woman's raised voice. She came to intervene, along with two adult companions.

"They explained that the juvenile has autism and routinely entertains himself by taking photographs with the iPad," Manzella stated. "When one adult called for police assistance, the woman and her male companion began to walk eastbound on Balboa Boulevard, returning to yell at the group once more before leaving the area."

The white female with long dark blonde hair, approximately 24-27 years old, 5"4" - 5'5" tall, and 125-130 pounds. She was last seen wearing an olive green jacket and cropped black leggings.

The white male with dark hair and facial hair, approximately 6'1" - 6'2" tall and 200-220 pounds. He was last seen wearing jeans and a "Newport Beach Lifeguard" novelty t-shirt.

"It has been verified that the subject is not affiliated with Newport Beach Lifeguards," Manzella said.

Autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development.

The disorders are generally characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. These communication difficulties can often be mitigated by communicating with visual input (drawings, gestures, etc.), speaking literally (people with autism often struggle with figurative speech), and pausing regularly to allow the person with autism adequate time to process what is being said.

The Newport Beach Police Department has been unable to identify the man and woman involved in this incident. Anyone with information that can assist us in this case is asked to contact Detective Rick Henry at 949-644-3790 or rhenry@nbpd.org.