New York, January 18, 2026: A nurse in Suffolk County, New York, identified as Bruno Valenzuela, was arrested on Thursday, January 15, 2026, after surveillance footage allegedly showed him repeatedly slapping a 5-year-old child with cerebral palsy in his care at a residence in Port Jefferson.
According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), Cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that appears in infancy or early childhood and permanently affects body movement and muscle coordination. It is the leading cause of childhood disabilities in the U.S.
Valenzuela, 31, of Brentwood, was taken into custody on January 15, 2026, and charged with Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person, a Class E felony, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, according to a press release from the Suffolk County Police Department.
The alleged incident occurred on December 20, 2025, at approximately 12:30 p.m., at the child’s home in Port Jefferson. Valenzuela, who was employed by the Christian Nursing Registry in Smithtown, was caring for the child identified as Maverick.
According to police and surveillance footage reviewed by media outlets, Valenzuela allegedly slapped the child aggressively on the back and chest more than 10 times while the child lay flat on his back. The video also reportedly shows Valenzuela picking up and shaking the child while repeatedly telling him to “relax.”
Two days after the incident, Maverick’s father, Christopher Brower, noticed bruising on his son’s chest and back. When the weekend nurse did not mention any issues related to the bruises, Brower became suspicious and reviewed the home’s security footage.
Following the discovery, the family took the child to Stony Brook University Hospital on December 22, 2025, and filed a police report. Special Victims Unit detectives subsequently launched an investigation.
Valenzuela had been caring for Maverick for approximately three and a half years prior to the alleged assault. Speaking to WABC, Brower expressed his shock, saying, “I had no signs. If you asked me five days before this happened, I would have told you he was an amazing person.”
The Christian Nursing Registry immediately terminated Valenzuela’s employment and reported him to the state licensing department. Camille Harlow, director of the agency, told Greater Long Island that Valenzuela was “like part of the family.”
“We were horrified. In 38 years, we’ve never had this happen,” the agency said in a statement. “He was with that family for three and a half years and had a wonderful rapport with both the family and the child. We’ve cooperated with every entity that has requested information from us.”
The agency also confirmed that Valenzuela’s human resources records were current, including a background check. Harlow added, “From what we can tell, this was a one-time incident. We’re thinking that he just snapped.”
Valenzuela was arraigned on Friday, January 16, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was released under non-monetary conditions, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.
Brower said he remains committed to seeking justice for his son. “My son’s a fighter—hence his name, Maverick. He’s been through so much in his life, and he doesn’t deserve this,” he said.
Suffolk County Police detectives are urging anyone who believes a family member may have been a victim of Valenzuela to contact the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.
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