INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis caretaker is under arrest after coworkers accused him of beating an autistic, non-verbal man with a flashlight.
Williams Brooks Jr., 85, is charged with one count of battery resulting in bodily injury to a disabled person, a Level 5 felony.
According to court documents, Greenwood police were notified of the abuse on July 5 by employees of Community Integration Support Services. The coworkers reportedly filmed part of the abuse.
A police officer reported viewing the footage and said it showed Brooks striking the victim with a closed fist multiple times in the chest and abdomen area.
The witnesses said the abuse continued beyond what was shown in the video and included Brooks striking the victim with a flashlight. Photographs of the victim's injuries were shown to police and included the victim having several bloody cuts on his lips.
Police spoke to Brooks who reportedly denied striking the victim. He claimed he sometimes had to "push" the victim in order to make him lie down. He also claimed he put a flashlight to the victim's head "to let him feel the flashlight," but denied hitting the victim with it.
Brooks was taken into custody and transported to the Johnson County Jail.
If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.