Suffolk County Police today arrested a man for slapping a disabled child while in his care at a residence in Port Jefferson last December.
Bruno Valenzuela, who was employed by the Christian Nursing Registry in Smithtown, was caring for a 5-year-old child afflicted with cerebral palsy at the child’s home in Port Jefferson, when the child started coughing and crying. Valenzuela slapped the child aggressively in the back and chest on December 20, 2025, at approximately 12:35 p.m.
The child had bruises on his chest. The family took the child to Stony Brook University Hospital on December 22. A police report was made, and an investigation was started by Special Victims Unit detectives.
Valenzuela, 31, was arrested at his home last night in Brentwood at 9:06 p.m.
He was charged with Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person, a class E felony, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Valenzuela will be held overnight at the Third Precinct and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on January 16.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they could have a family member who is a victim of Valenzuela to contact the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184. He is no longer employed at the Christian Nursing Registry.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.