Family with autistic children says they were kicked off Orchard Beach over swim toys

A Riverdale mother is frustrated that her family was told to leave Orchard Beach due to her children’s toys.

News 12 Staff

Jul 13, 2022, 11:13 PM

Updated 896 days ago

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A Riverdale mother is frustrated that her family was told to leave Orchard Beach due to her children’s toys.
Monica Porles says a lifeguard told her and her two daughters that they were allowed to be on the beach with their toys, which included inflatable life rings.
However, later on another lifeguard and an officer told them they couldn’t have the items and had to leave the beach.
Video of the incident taken by Porles husband was shared on Instagram and has garnered over 95,000 views. In it, Porles gives an explanation of what happens before officers escort her family off the beach.
"We asked 'Why, what was the reason?' They told us the supervisor didn't want to see us at the beach. They told us that we had to immediately leave the beach,” Porles says.
She says she went to a police precinct to file a report, but nothing was done.
"We won't be going back to that beach. I don't want to go through the same ordeal again,” Porles says.
The Parks Department told News 12 in a statement, “Safety at our beaches is our main priority and floaties are strictly prohibited and dangerous to use in the water. The NYPD was called after these beachgoers disregarded our directive multiple times to not use floaties in the water and they were escorted out of the water to the boardwalk. "
The Parks Department says the orders were given in both English and Spanish, since the family speaks Spanish.