School Bus Aide Accused of Attacking Student With Autism

LONGMONT, Colo. — A school bus aide here allegedly attacked a special-needs student with autism and is facing felony charges, authorities said.

Prosecutors said that surveillance video shows Monica Burke, a former assistant for autistic students at St. Vrain Valley School District, repeatedly attacking the student for at least one week: kicking and punching him, hitting him with a seat belt, and spraying Lysol in his face, according to CBS4.

An arrest report obtained by CBS4 indicated that Burke was irritated by the student’s odor. The report also said that the student is nonverbal and was only able to hold up his hands to shield himself from the attacks.

Police also said that video surveillance allegedly showed Burke verbally and physically abusing multiple students, Daily Camera reports. 

Burke was charged on Dec. 30 with 24 counts of felony assault against an at-risk person, and 14 counts of misdemeanor neglect of an at-risk person, according to Daily Camera.