Juvenile detention center under investigation for abuse on autistic child

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Accusations of child abuse at the Duval Juvenile Detention Center are being investigated by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Guards at the center had to restrain a mentally challenged juvenile and are accused of using too much force, according to authorities.

Action News is the only local station with this investigation.
 
Kyle Methvin, 13, has spent the last four months lying alone and scared inside a juvenile jail cell.

He is autistic, and doctors say he suffers from uncontrollable impulses that force him to have tantrums.

Methvin was arrested Oct. 2 for punching a school staff member. In a report obtained by Action News, the incident was ruled a "manifestation of his disability."

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Sources say Methvin's behavior is getting worse. Action News asked for a police report detailing a recent tantrum that Methvin had.

Police said the inmates were harassing Methvin, which caused him to throw chairs and be forcefully restrained by the guards.

DCF is investigating accusations of child abuse against the guards.
 
"These types of facilities do have methods they are able to use on restraining children. A key question is this: Were those methods properly used?" DCF spokesman John Harrell said.
 
Sources said Methvin was bruised so badly that he looked like he was beaten. DCF officials said they don't have the authority to remove him from the jail.
 
"We do have the authority to tell the facility that this person should not have contact with the child or with other children at the facility based on the information we find," Harrell said.

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