Two accused of handcuffing autistic man in Overbrook home

When police responded Sunday night to a disturbance at an Overbrook house, they found a 28-year-old man with a handcuff dangling from his left wrist. The man, later identified as autistic, could not communicate with officers.

The owner of a nearby corner store on the 6500 block of Lebanon Avenue saw the officers. He told them the man had staggered into his store, where he started grabbing food and drinks.

And it had happened before.

That, police said, is when they discovered how the man's sister and her boyfriend allegedly treated the man. The two returned to the house, with an explanation, while police were there.

"They said they had to leave the house to go visit other family members," Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives said. "They handcuffed him to the futon."

Latrice Graves, 26, and Phillip Martin, 33, were charged with unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, and conspiracy, Walker said.

The 28-year-old man was being treated Monday at Lankenau Medical Center, Walker said. Police have contacted state health officials to arrange proper care following his hospitalization.

Two juveniles found in the house were taken to the Department of Human Services.

The autistic man had stumbled into the corner store before, the owner told police. Within the last few months, the man had entered the store with his hands duct-taped behind his back, wearing only soiled underwear, the owner said.

Officers described deplorable conditions inside the house.

"The house was in disarray," Walker said. "It smelled of urine. There were used diapers in the basement."

When police executed a search warrant Sunday, Walker said, they found the futon where the man was allegedly shackled. It had been overturned.

215-854-2928 @MattGelb