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Child's parents want cameras on special ed buses to prevent abuse
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (CNN) -- The parents of a disabled child who was allegedly slapped by a school bus driver said Wednesday they want video cameras put on all special education buses to help prevent abuse of children who can't always speak for themselves. A police report indicates driver Brian Duchow, 28, admitted striking 9-year-old Jacob Mutulo, who has Down syndrome, while he was driving Mutulo to school on April 29. Duchow also allegedly admitted yelling at and threatening the boy on several occasions. The April 29 incident was captured by a tape recorder Jacob's parents had put in his backpack. Police have filed charges of intentionally causing bodily harm on a child and disorderly conduct against Duchow. Jacob's father, Vince, said he and his wife got the idea of putting a voice-activated recorder into their son's backpack after his behavior deteriorated and he became physically aggressive, indicating something was upsetting him. "Jacob is just such a loving child ... and we knew this just wasn't (him)," the boy's mother, Rosemary, told CNN's Heidi Collins. On the tape, Duchow can be heard saying, "I'm going to smack the living hell out of you," and telling Jacob, "Shut up." The tape "made me sick to my stomach," Jacob's mother said. The Mutulos displayed the harness that their son wears while riding on the bus -- one that keeps him completely restrained and zips up the back. They said because of the harness there would be no way Jacob could have interfered with Duchow and that their child was "helpless" when the driver stopped the bus and walked down the aisle to slap him. Jacob's parents are hoping their son's experience will prompt legislators to take action and install video cameras to protect special needs children. "A video camera is an impartial witness," Rosemary Mutulo said Wednesday. "There is no reason not to put them on a bus." "They are there to protect the children."
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