Teacher blamed for hurting autistic boy

Jackson Cecil injured while at Bright Horizon School

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – The grandparents of a 6-year-old boy who has autism believe a substitute teacher knows how their grandson was badly injured while he was at school last week.

"He ran to me and got in my lap, clung to me tighter than he ever has. I was angry, I was upset, I was horrified," said Debra Oleksak.

A grandmother held back tears when talking about Jackson Cecil, who left Bright Horizon School in Pompano Beach with cuts, bruises, and welts.

PHOTOS: Boy's injuries

"He was pretty well bruised, pretty well beaten," said Michael Oleksak.

Michael and Debra Oleksak called police since Cecil can't tell them what happened because he's autistic and has trouble talking.

"This child can't tell you what happened or speak for himself and nobody knows," said Debra Oleksak.

School officials first said Cecil injured himself while riding the bus, but surveillance video showed he hadn't. A substitute teacher escorted Cecil from the bus to his classroom, and when he arrived, a teacher's aid noticed his injuries and called his parents, according to the grandparents.

"When he got off the bus, there was a close-up, he turned and faced the camera  and you could see plainly there were no scratches, bruises," said Michael Oleksak.

The couple suspects it was during that time frame, from the bus to his class, when a substitute teacher picked him up that he somehow got hurt.

The Broward School District released a statement, saying, "Our school police is working collaboratively with BSO and local agencies regarding the allegations."

The Broward Sheriff's Office is investigating this as a possible child abuse case. Jackson started at a new school Wednesday.