A youth care specialist at a youth detention facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico has been arrested for allegedly choking and punching a 14-year-old boy in his care.
Eddie Aragon has worked with the troubled children and teens at the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center for two months, but it was he who was taken away in handcuffs.
On Saturday, a supervisor reportedly witnessed Aragon choking the teen, and when told to let go of the boy, hit him in the face with a closed fist.
The supervisor then contacted state police, who pursued a criminal investigation. Aragon was taken into custody form his home this week on charges of child abuse.
While being taken away, Aragon told local ABC affiliate KOAT 7 he did not hit the teen and that the 14-year-old was shouting from a cell.
The Children and Youth Families Department says the youth care specialists are trained to restrain, bu not strike those in the facility.
