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Peoria man with autism allegedly assaulted on school bus

Sammy Alford's parents said that he was struck by the family member of another student.

PEORIA, Ariz. — On Monday morning, Sammy Alford was on a Peoria school bus when he was allegedly struck by the family member of another student. 

Alford, who is a nonverbal 20-year-old with autism, occasionally experiences episodes — a term used when a person with autism might misbehave or is stressed. His parents say that during the one that occurred that day led to a violent altercation with a 69-year-old man. 

Alford attends ACCEL Peoria campus for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Scott Alford, Sammy Alford’s dad, said that he watched surveillance video from the bus that showed the incident as it happened. 

“He was yelling obscenities, he was being offensive, he was being threatening,” said Scott Alford. “From the moment he got in the bus it was a negative interaction with my son.”

Peoria police officers said that at the time, the bus driver attempted to calm Sammy Alford when another passenger was boarding the bus. A relative of the passenger allegedly also boarded and became aggressive. 

Scott Alford said that while watching the surveillance provided by the school district, he noticed the suspect getting on and off the bus three times before allegedly assaulting Sammy Alford.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has been notified of the case and is looking into possibly pressing charges against the man. 

The family is hoping that the school district will work with them to ensure that Sammy Alford feels safe as he rides the bus in the future. 

12 News attempted to make contact with the suspect, who declined to be interviewed. 

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