NY man accused of assaulting non-verbal person with Down syndrome: police

SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11) – A Long Island man is accused of assaulting a person with Down syndrome, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
Raliek Leonard, 28, of Central Islip, was charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or disabled person and third-degree assault, according to police.
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Officers were contacted by a local agency on Long Island that assists people with autism and Down syndrome. The agency, located in Smithtown, N.Y., reported that on June 3, a non-verbal adult resident with Down syndrome was found to have facial lacerations and a swollen lip at the facility, police said.
An investigation revealed that employee Raliek Leonard, whom the agency employed, was seen on security camera pushing the victim into a room, causing him to strike his head on the floor, police said.
Leonard is currently suspended from his position at the facility. He is due back in court on Thursday, authorities said.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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