Baltimore man charged with assaulting a 7-year-old with Down syndrome

From WMAR-TV in Baltimore:

Police say a Baltimore County man is charged with beating up a seven-year old with Down Syndrome.

It all happened Sept. 29 with a school yard fight at Winfield Elementary School in Randallstown. Two first graders fought and one boy with Down Syndrome hit another.

According to police, dissatisfied with the school's handling of the argument, the father of the boy who was hit went into the cafeteria at lunch time and grabbed the seven-year-old with Down Syndrome. According to charging documents, the adult shook the special needs child causing the child to hit his head against the wall several times and then spit on him.

"It's just outrageous. It's unbelievable, unbelievable."

Donna Dyson is the mother of the boy who was shaken. Understandably, she is horrified and pressed charges.

"To come into the school and deliberately set out to hurt a child, any child, but particularly a child who already has challenges."

Baltimore County Police have charged Ronald Matthews of Randallstown with second degree assault. Matthews reportedly told police he was defending his son but he received a summons and is expected in court next month.

It is a defense and punishment Dyson finds outrageous.

"Like it's OK to just go into an elementary school, brutally assault an innocent child who has Downs Syndrome. It's pathetic."

Dyson is upset with the school as well, saying officials there did not handle this the right way. She was also told school officials are now requesting her son be transferred, a move she believes will victimize the special needs student twice.