OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – An Osceola County school teacher is accused of physically and verbally abusing a 5-year-old autistic boy in class.
Craig Hanson and Kristina Moreno said it happened to their son, Phoenix, last month at Narcoossee Elementary school in St. Cloud.
Local 6 is not naming the teacher because she hasn't been officially charged.
A spokesperson with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said they filed child abuse charges and forwarded the case to the State Attorney's Office for review.
Moreno said they received a call from the office on Monday informing them that abuse charges will likely be filed this week.
According to the incident report, the teacher's aid came forward, saying she witnessed the teacher pull him up "roughly by the arms" and toss him to the ground, then grabbed his feet and "dragged him across the carpet" while verbally abusing him.
The aid also accused the teacher told other students to "kick or push Phoenix when he misbehaves."
A school district spokesperson said the teacher will be transferred to another school this coming school year while she is under investigation.
Watch Local 6 for more on this story.