Slap of S.I. epileptic boy at camp sparks suit

An epileptic boy's mother is suing the city school system after a Staten Island summer camp director allegedly slapped his hand, then covered his mouth and nose to stop him from crying.

The 10-year-old child was attending camp at Public School 861 in Graniteville on Aug. 4, 2017, when Robert Busan, 64, struck him, cops said. Police arrested him and charged him with child endangerment the next day.

Busan pleaded guilty to harassment, a non-criminal violation, and was sentenced to complete anger management classes. He was also ordered to stay away from the boy.

On Thursday, the boy and his mom, Stephanie Kruithoff, sued Busan, the city and the New York Center for Interpersonal Development — the not-for-profit that runs the summer camp and hired Busan.

They're alleging the school and the center failed to supervise Busan properly and prevent him from hitting the boy.

“He's a nice kid, he has a history of epilepsy and he cared about how he was treated,” said the family's lawyer Efrom Gross. “The counselor must have some type of issue with his anger management.”

The Education Department barred Busan from working in city schools after his arrest.

Busan, a well-regarded community activist who worked with the New York Center for Interpersonal development for years, cofounded Project B.U.I.L.D., a Staten Island organization for people living with AIDS.

One parent whose child attended the same camp stuck up for Busan last year.

The parent, who didn't give her name, told the Daily News that her son told her Busan had playfully slapped the boy's hand and squeezed his cheeks during a water balloon fight.

Busan did not return a message seeking comment.