Lufkin man accused of pulling autistic son off top bunk

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - Lufkin Police have arrested a man accused of injuring his autistic five-year-old son by pulling him off the top bunk of a bunk bed to the floor in July.

Russell Allen Gorsuch, 30, of Lufkin, is charged with state-jail felony injury to a child.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Gorsuch took his son to a Nacogdoches doctor on July 19. The doctor noticed severe bruising on the back and buttocks of the child and asked Gorsuch what happened. Gorsuch did not give a good answer and the doctor called Child Protective Services, according to the affidavit.

A Lufkin Police detective began investigating the case and interviewed the child's parents, who denied knowledge of how the child got the bruising, according to the affidavit. The detective reported having a second interview with Gorsuch on Aug. 7 and he admitted to causing the injuries by grabbing him by the arm while he was on the top bunk and pulling him off the bed. The child struck the floor.

According to the affidavit, Gorsuch admitted he gets frustrated with the child, who is severally autistic and cannot communicate, and he "slings him around toward the chair" and he plops him down hard on his chair, which can cause injuries.

Gorsuch was booked into the Angelina County Jail on Monday, where he is waiting for a judge to set his bond.

Lufkin Police spokesman Det. JB Smith said officers arrested Gorsuch at the CPS office, located at 1210 S. Chestnut Street. Smith said an employee said Gorsuch was in the lobby and cursing at other people in the lobby. The responding officer verified Gorsuch had a warrant and placed him under arrest.

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