LI Facility Employee Accused Of Pushing Adult With Down Syndrome: Police

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — An employee of a home for individuals with disabilities was arrested Wednesday after Suffolk police said he assaulted a resident of the facility, who has Down syndrome, earlier this month.

Representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Institute, at 99 Hollywood Drive, Smithtown, contacted police on June 3 and reported a non-verbal adult resident with Down Syndrome was found to have facial cuts and a swollen lip at the facility on June 2, police said.

Following an investigation, employee Raliek Leonard, 28, of Central Islip, was seen on camera pushing the resident into a room, causing him to strike his head on the floor at approximately 1:10 p.m. June 2, police said.

Leonard was charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, police said.

Leonard was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on June 12, police said.

Leonard is currently suspended from his position at the facility and an independent investigation is being conducted by the Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs, police said.