Father speaks out after autistic son removed from courtroom

OSCEOLA, Ark. (KAIT) - The father of an autistic man is speaking out after his son was removed from a courtroom by law enforcement officers following a hearing before a District Court Judge Catherine Dean.

Daniel Thomas Jr. appeared in court Wednesday, July 22, on a misdemeanor harassment charge filed June 17. After Dean found him guilty, Thomas, who was set to serve 30 days, began begging loudly and moved toward the judge, according to the account of the encounter.

Police described his movement toward the judge as a breach of safety, and officers removed him from the room. Video captured Thomas saying, “Please, I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe,” as multiple officers took him from the courtroom.

Thomas’ father, Daniel Thomas Sr., said he later met with the police chief.

“He stated to me that the judge felt threatened and she signaled to the officer to remove them from the courtroom,” Thomas Sr. said.

Jessica Kitchen, a therapist who works with people with autism, said behaviors in stressful situations can be misunderstood. Speaking generally, she said people with autism may struggle to communicate and may be expected to respond in ways that are not typical of people who are autistic.

“These are not tantrums. These are not just someone just not getting their way,” Kitchen said.

Kitchen said movements, posture, eye contact, and tone can be misinterpreted. What someone sees as suspicious behavior, she said, could be a form of self-stimulatory behavior, or “stimming.”

Thomas Sr. said he learned of a social media post by Dean that he believed referred to the incident and thanked an officer. Dean said her post did not identify anyone by name or associate a specific incident with any defendant.

Thomas Sr. said the discovery motivated him to take further action on behalf of his son and others.

“By taking action this time, maybe I can stop somebody else’s child from going through the same thing,” he said.

Thomas Sr. said his son has been in three different institutions, including some outside Arkansas. The Osceola Police Department declined to comment on camera, saying the investigation is ongoing.

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