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13-year-old boy with autism handcuffed, arrested after pulling fire alarm at school

Posted at 6:35 PM, May 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-13 08:40:02-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Angela Miller said she couldn't believe the first phone call she received about her son getting into trouble at school was from a police officer with the school district.

Angela's 13-year-old son Jerel is in the sixth grade at Thirkell Elementary-Middle School on 14th Street near West Grand Boulevard in Detroit.

Angela says Jerel has high-functioning autism, and any other time her son has had trouble at school, she's been called and she's been able to help him over the phone.

"They really have to get their act together because this don't make sense," said Angela who talked to 7 Action News Friday.

The incident took place on Wednesday and Jerel has not wanted to go back to school since it happened, according to his mother.

Chrystal Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Marketing for Detroit Public Schools Community District, released the following statement Friday:

A student at Thirkell Elementary/Middle School was arrested and therefore handcuffed earlier this week for pulling the fire alarm, as sounding a false alarm is a crime. The student's parent was issued a citation as a result of the false alarm according to district protocol. The district is reviewing the arrest.

Click on the video to watch Kimberly Craig's report.