VALLEY CENTER — Video surveillance showing a 23-year-old Valley Center man with autism being beaten hundreds of times over a three-week period by two caregivers led sheriff’s deputies to arrest one man Wednesday night. An arrest warrant has been issued for the other caregiver.
The Sheriff’s Department learned of the suspected abuse on Aug. 29, Sgt. Mark Varnau said. The victim is nonverbal and severely autistic.
His family alleged that two hired caregivers were captured on video abusing the victim in August, Varnau said. The family had installed a video surveillance system in the man’s bedroom just prior to the assaults being discovered, he said.
The two caregivers were employed by the family for more than two years.
It’s not known how long the victim was abused, Varnau said. Because of his autism, he had no ability to communicate to others what was happening, the sergeant said.
Detectives reviewed more than 2,000 video recordings before obtaining arrest warrants for Michael Dale Garritson, 50, of Valley Center, and Matthew Alexander McDuffie, 27, of San Diego.
McDuffie was arrested Wednesday night by detectives from the sheriff’s fugitive apprehension unit.
Garritson has not been apprehended, and sheriff’s officials asked for the public’s help in locating him. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477