ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 23 (UPI) -- The mother of a 5-year-old Florida girl handcuffed by police during an alleged uncontrollable tantrum at school has threatened to sue the officers.
The incident, caught on video camera, began when the girl refused to participate in a math lesson at the St. Petersburg school. She reportedly ripped papers off a bulletin board and physically attacked anyone who tried to calm her down. A teacher and assistant principal made numerous attempts to calm the girl, but they were unsuccessful. They called police after speaking to the girl's mother, who said she could not pick up her daughter for an hour, the BBC reported.
Three officers arrived at the school and handcuffed the girl. They drove her to her mother in the back of a police cruiser.
A lawyer for the girl's mother said the episode was "incomprehensible."
The St. Petersburg Police Department declined to comment on the incident and said an investigation was under way.
