Prosecutors: Little City employee grabbed, kicked resident

An employee of Little City, a Palatine organization that assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, was ordered held on $50,000 bail Wednesday on accusations he injured a 19-year-old man with autism.

Thankgod Ejekyu, 48, faces an aggravated battery charge alleging he grabbed, pulled and kicked the man who communicates only with single words or two-word statements, prosecutors said.

If convicted, Ejekyu faces up to seven years in prison. Probation is also an option. He has no criminal background, authorities said.

Authorities say Little City employees noticed the 19-year-old had a black eye Monday morning and checked surveillance video from the previous night.

According to prosecutors, the video shows the teen, who is not wearing clothes and appears distressed, crawling backward out the door of his room and into the hallway. The video shows Ejekyu standing over him grabbing and pulling at his genitals, in the process lifting him slightly off the ground and causing pain, according to Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Loukas Kalliantasis.

Ejekyu kicked the resident after releasing him, Kalliantasis said.

Authorities say Ejekyu is on administrative leave from Little City, but representatives from the organization have not confirmed that with the Daily Herald.

If he released on bond, Ejekyu cannot have any contact with the Little City organization. He is scheduled to return to court Oct. 3.