I don’t think that the autism had anything to do with the crime, itself. It had everything to do with how he was perceived by the cops.
Many cops tend to rely on getting a “feel” for the suspect. High-functioning autistic folks often have “resting bitch face.” They don’t come across as “likable,” and people can “get their back up” over it.
I’m a bit “on the spectrum,” and, as anyone in my shoes can tell you, we’re bully magnets. My grade school days were absolute hell. I got the shit kicked out of me, on a regular basis, for no other reason, than “I don’t like the way you’re looking at me!”. I spent many years, training my “resting face” to be fairly open and friendly. People seem to think I look like an idiot, but that’s OK, because they also tend to underestimate me. At least, they don’t think I’m being hostile.
Many cops tend to rely on getting a “feel” for the suspect. High-functioning autistic folks often have “resting bitch face.” They don’t come across as “likable,” and people can “get their back up” over it.
I’m a bit “on the spectrum,” and, as anyone in my shoes can tell you, we’re bully magnets. My grade school days were absolute hell. I got the shit kicked out of me, on a regular basis, for no other reason, than “I don’t like the way you’re looking at me!”. I spent many years, training my “resting face” to be fairly open and friendly. People seem to think I look like an idiot, but that’s OK, because they also tend to underestimate me. At least, they don’t think I’m being hostile.