Boy with autism attacked by teens at Pennsylvania amusement park

From WTAE- TV in Pittsburgh, Pa.

LIGONIER, Pa. -- Police in Westmoreland County are investigating after a 10-year-old boy who has autism was attacked at a local amusement park.

Debbie Zomisky said her son, Kolton, was kicked, punched and choked while waiting in line at a ride at Idlewild and that other adults in the area turned a blind eye to the beating.

"Kolton got off the ride and said that some teenagers had hit him and choked him," Zomisky said.

But police in Ligonier Township police told Channel 4 Action News' Jennifer Miele that they can do little to catch the teens without witnesses coming forward.

Zomisky said her son lives with Asperger Syndrome, a type of autism. She said he sometimes has a difficult time in social situations, although he's very intelligent.

She told Miele that Kolton was waiting in line by himself for a water slide at Idlewild Park's Soak Zone on Friday, when some teen boys started teasing him. When the teasing turned to punching, Zomisky said nearby adults did nothing to help.

"They started choking me and horsing me, and kicking me, and punching me," Kolton Zomisky said.

Debbie Zomisky said she told a park employee, but decided to leave a few a minutes later.

When bruises started to show on Kolton's skin, Debbie Zomisky said she decided to go to police the next day.

Investigators are now looking for three teenagers and for a woman who was standing in front of Kolton during the scuffle.

"I would really appreciate this woman coming forward so she can give a better description. Maybe she knew them," Debbie Zomisky said.

An Idlewild officials told Channel 4 Action News that, "Upon receiving the report, the Idlewild Department of Public Safety reached out to the family, immediately contacted the Ligonier Township Police Department and we are cooperating fully with their investigation."