Luanne Haygood, the mother of a 10-year-old boy with autism, is angry that her son was arrested earlier this month at his Florida school for allegedly punching and kicking his teacher six months ago. Okeechobee County school resource officers put the child in handcuffs at Okeechobee Achievement Academy, but Haygood said the school district isn't properly equipped to deal with autistic children.
“He has autism. He doesn’t know what’s going on,” she can be heard saying in the video that she recorded of her son’s arrest. “He’s scared to death. He’s 10 years old.”
Haygood watched as her son was removed from his classroom for allegedly leaving a paraprofessional with scratches and other marks back in October. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant on allegations of felony battery on a school board authority.
"I was extremely angry. That I felt like this was a power play. I felt like this was a this is what you get. You can't do anything about it. We're going to arrest your son if he can't abide by the rules," Haygood told WFOR, adding that her son's disability is the reason behind his behavior. "To go and have him arrested on school grounds in front of other students, in front of personnel, during school hours – they could've come to my house at any time to tell me what was going on."
The boy reportedly spent one night in juvenile detention, according to the Washington Post. The child was then released on house arrest and is expected to appear in court next month.
Haygood said the incident would never have happened if the school had the proper services to address his disability.
"I want something done," she told WFOR. "I want other kids to not have to go through this."
According to CNN, the school district released the following statement:
"It has been district procedure to invite students in to take the Florida Standards Assessment. The district would not invite someone to one of our campuses for the sole purpose to arrest.
"The district routinely assists students by providing services from our board certified behavioral analyst, licensed mental health counselors, school social workers, and psychologists. As a team, these individuals develop interventions, conduct assessments, and offer support both at school and in the home in order to assist students and families.
"The district is unable to provide specific information as to both current and past incidents regarding this or any other student due to educational laws and rules. It is our hope that we can continue to work with all families to help their students improve both behaviorally and academically."
– The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
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