Special Needs Student Assaulted With Metal Cane: Trumbull Police

TRUMBULL, CT — A staff member at ICES is accused of "physically assaulting a non-verbal special needs student with a metal cane causing injuries requiring medical treatment," police said.

On Tuesday, Andre Dickens, 53, of Shelley Street in Waterbury, was charged following the "attack," police said. He was taken into police custody while at ICES. Dickens was a “Direct Support Professional” employed by ICES, which is a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program that provides supported living services for adults with disabilities.

At about 3 p.m., officers were called to 12 Cambridge Drive (ICES) on a complaint of an assault on a student, police said.

"Police learned that earlier that morning, staff member Andre Dickens was sitting in a chair across the room from the 41-year-old, non-verbal, student who was sitting in a bean bag," police said in a news release. "Dickens, being unprovoked, got up from his seat, went over to (the) student then beat the student with a cane. Dickens struck the student several times causing lacerations and facial injuries, as the student tried to climb away from Dickens."

Dickens told staff members that the student had tripped and fallen, causing their own injuries, therefore Dickens drove the student to Bridgeport Hospital for medical treatment, police said. Dickens later returned to ICES, leaving the student at the hospital to receive medical treatment, police said.

"When later questioned, Dickens stated that he did not strike the student, but only chased the student around while holding his cane. Police investigation and video recordings of the incident showed otherwise," police said in a news release.

Dickens is charged with second-degree assault on a disabled/intellectually disabled person and held in lieu of a $20,000 bond.