Parents Of Children With Autism Angered By Ocean-Jump Dare

Parents of children with autism are responding with anger to the story of a 19-year-old Howell man with autism who jumped into the icy ocean waters on a dare from two other men, who laughed while they shot video of it on a cellphone.

Parker Drake of Howell recounted the incident in an article that appeared Wednesday in the Asbury Park Press. Drake, who also is an insulin-dependent diabetic, told the Press that the two men egged him into accepting the dare to jump into the ocean and stay there for a minute. For doing so, they offered him $20 and two packs of cigarettes, Drake said.

When Drake jumped into the water from a jetty in Manasquan, his insulin pump froze because the water temperature was below freezing, he told the Press. While he struggled to get out, the two men -- whom Drake told the Press he believed were his friends -- videotaped him on a cellphone as he struggled. They later shared that video and a subsequent one where they interviewed him after he got out of the water on Twitter and via SnapChat, another social media application.

The incident happened Feb. 25, according to the report. Drake’s mother, Christine Marshall, filed a disorderly persons complaint in Manasquan Municipal Court this week against Nicholas Formica, 20, and Christopher Tilton, 19, both of Howell, according to the Press report. Marshall’s complaint claims they violated the law by “endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.” The charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail.

Marshall told the Press that Drake’s psychiatris has diagnosed him as having autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorder, Tourette syndrome and learning disorders, on top of juvenile diabetes, Marshall said. Drake is enrolled in a job-training program for special-needs students at Freehold Township High School, which he can stay in until he is 21, according to his mother.

Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office told the Press they have not charged the two men because they could not find a criminal statute that applies to the situation, because Drake is considered an adult and because he agreed to jump.

Marshall and Drake told the Press they are sharing the incident in hopes that the laws can be changed.

Reactions to the story among parents of children with autism and developmental disabilities have been overwhelming one of anger.

On the Facebook page Autism with a side of fries, administered by a woman whose son has autism, a lengthy string of comments from parents.

“I cannot believe what I am reading!!! This is an outrage! It’s absolutely a hate crime!” wrote one mother.

“This just breaks my heart,” said another. “I don’t understand why and what possesses someone to be cruel like this.”

“This is so scary. This is exactly the reason that I will be crazy and paranoid and want to know where my son is and who he is with at all times, even when he’s 18. It’s so awful that even when our kids are capable of being more independent, we can’t trust that the world is safe enough for them to be independent,” a third woman wrote.

“There should be laws. If there’s special schools for our kids obviously it’s needed. These tragedies are sickening. Who raises these animals? We need to push for laws!” another wrote.

Many others simply expressed anger and disgust over the incident.

What are your thoughts? Should the laws be changed?