Autistic man's family sues over Florida police shooting
MIAMI -- An autistic man's family is suing the city of north Miami and four police officers, claiming the disabled man's civil rights were violated when authorities shot his caretaker.
CBS Miami reports the police interrogation of Arnaldo Soto was released Monday, nearly a year after he was transported in handcuffs to the North Miami Police Department.
Surveillance video shows an officer trying to question Soto about the incident, but it's clear that he is unable to communicate. At one point, Soto indicates that he wants to have his shackles removed. But the request is denied.
"I'm heartbroken," Miriam Rios, Soto's sister, told CBS Miami. "I feel so guilty I couldn't be there for him. I'm upset in this day and age they can't tell that he's autistic."
"There is no constitutional right that wasn't trampled by North Miami police on that day," added attorney Matthew Dietz. "They should have known and understood this was a person with autism."
The incident unfolded on July 18, 2016, when Soto was in the street with his caregiver, Charles Kinsey. Police say Kinsey was trying to coax Soto, who had a silver tanker truck toy in his hand, back into his group home.
Officers believed the toy was a weapon and fired three rounds, subsequently striking Kinsey in the leg while his hands were raised in the air. Soto was taken to the police department for interrogation following the shooting.
Officer Jonathan Aledda was charged in April with attempted manslaughter for shooting Kinsey. Prosecutors later upgraded the charges to include additional attempted manslaughter and culpable negligence.
Soto's family hopes their lawsuit will lead to lasting changes on how developmentally disabled people are viewed.
Soto now lives at a special needs facility in Central Florida. His mother and sister moved from their Kendall home to be closer to him.
Kinsey, who no longer works as a caregiver, is also suing the city. He continues to recover from his gunshot wound 11 months after the incident.
