close
close

Mercedes S-Class Driver Slaps Autistic Boy For Bending Hood Ornament On His $146,000 Sedan

Posted on by Dsen .N

By Alex Hammer and Adry Torres for Dailymail.com

00:48 04 Jul 2024, updated 02:33 04 Jul 2024

Footage shows the moment a Mercedes driver slapped an autistic boy for bending the car’s bonnet ornament.

The unidentified motorist is seen hitting the boy seconds after seeing the damage, which is estimated to cost around $500 to repair.

The car itself costs just over $146,000 and was purchased just over a year ago from a Southern California dealership, a vehicle history report shows.

The captured assault took place at the corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Osbourne Street in Pacoima, according to KTLA. The man’s license plate was later released by the person behind the camera.

In the video, the boy’s Spanish-speaking sister tells the sunglasses-wearing driver “sorry, (my brother) is autistic” – after which he slaps the boy and drives away. At the time of writing, it is unclear exactly when and where the incident took place.

Footage shows moment Mercedes driver slapped child for bending car’s bonnet ornament
The unidentified motorist is seen hitting the boy seconds after seeing the damage, which is estimated to cost around $500 to repair.

The network identified the boy as Alfredo Morales, a 10-year-old who has autism.

“Sorry, he’s autistic,” the woman says in the video. “He has special needs.”

The man, unperturbed, walks towards the mother and child, while the woman is seen simultaneously trying to calm the boy down and plead her case.

Within seconds, the man stands over the two, quickly curls his hand and strikes the boy’s face with an open palm.

An image of the Mercedes hood ornament allegedly damaged by the autistic boy before he was struck by the driver

He then points his finger at the now cowering young man, before walking away and returning to his car.

A voice can be heard shouting in English, “What’s wrong with you?” as the man turns back to examine the damage once more.

He grabs the nearly dismembered ornament before walking back toward the driver’s side door of the S-Class, apparently shaking his head in disgust.

“No, stop him!” a female voice shouts as he opens the door, ready to drive away, where he appears to berate another spectator before taking his seat.

The man continues to walk away, but not before the person recording the encounter has a chance to carefully examine his license plate.

The filmed attack appears to have taken place in Southern California, as suggested by the cedar trees, palm trees and road signs visible in the background — as does the perpetrator’s license plate, which was later shared by the person behind the camera.
In the video, the boy’s Spanish-speaking mother tells the driver wearing sunglasses: “Sorry, (my son) is autistic – he has special needs.”
The man slaps the boy and leaves. At the time of writing, it is unclear exactly when and where the incident took place.
The car itself costs just over $146,000 and was purchased just over a year ago from a Southern California dealership, according to a vehicle history report.
The man leaves, but not before the person filming the encounter can examine his license plate. He has not yet been identified.

They also shared a photo of the man’s slightly bent Mercedes badge, which appeared to be the only damage caused.

At the time of writing, it is still unclear whether a police report has been filed, as footage of the incident is circulating on social media.

Meanwhile, public records indicated that the car had been purchased in Valencia in April 2024, at Mercedes-Benz of Valencia.

The sedan is a 2023 built in Germany, was purchased for a price of $146,350.

DailyMail.com has contacted the California Highway Patrol to see if the plate is linked to any active criminal cases.

The middle-aged man seen in the footage has not yet been identified. He could be charged with assault and battery on a minor, which, depending on the trauma inflicted, could be considered a misdemeanor or a felony.

If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.