Autistic Child Arrested
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Posted: 1:47 PM Jan 14, 2009
Autistic Child Arrested
The parents of an autistic 8-year-old girl in north Idaho are angry with what they perceive to be rough treatment by local law officials.
Reporter: CBS
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An 8-year-old autistic little girl was arrested, handcuffed and taken to a juvenile detention center after she got into a physical altercation with two teachers.

The child suffers from a high function form of autism called Asperger's syndrome.

The incident happened Friday (1/9). The child apparently wanted to attend a Christmas party wearing her cow sweatshirt.

Teachers told her she would have to tuck in the tail and put down the ears. Teachers say the girl refused. When two teachers tried to restrain her, the girl started kicking, pinching and spitting on the teachers.

School officials called police and the girl’s mother.
When Spring Towry arrived at school, she saw her daughter being lead away to a juvenile detention center by police. Towry says after about an hour at the center she was allowed to take her daughter home.

The Bonner County prosecutor charged the girl with one county of battery, but Tuesday (1/13) the charge was dropped.

School officials say they followed a specific safety plan for the girl, but Towry says she’s never seen the plan, nor did she ever sign off on it.

Towry and her husband are pursuing legal action.
They say they don't excuse their daughter’s actions, but that the school did not need to go this far.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Tiffany Location: Mass on May 27, 2011 at 01:11 AM

I was just reading the comments, and I am astonished that Josh works with Autistic people. I think people should help get HIM fired! Simply for the fact that he says Autistic people won't be successful! Is this what you tell the people you work with??? I think someone needs to rent Temple Grandin, and tell himself, and the autistic people he claims to work with , that they can do ANYTHING they set their mind to! Furthermore, I am curious, how do you know the teacher? How do you know that these teachers are good? How do you know the parent is wrong? I am not going to pass judgement on who is right, because I wasn't there, and making a judgement that the parents or the teacher were wrong would be ignorant!
Posted by: Erin Location: Camarillo, CA on Feb 16, 2010 at 12:54 AM

The child (in her mind) was acting in self-defense. She was being restrained, and I'm sure this was threatening to her. This is a case of ignorance on the school and police's part. They probably know nothing about Spectrum Disorders. How would anyone react to people suddenly grabbing them? Just for fun, let's try it. They next time you're out and someone doesn't behave the way you want them to (maybe they cut in line at the supermarket), get a couple of your friends to grab them hold them down. See what happens. Then, when they fight back, have them arrested and charge them with battery.
Posted by: Mindy Location: Tallahassee on Feb 4, 2009 at 02:39 PM

Wow....guess I'm not the only one still keeping up on this story LOL....
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