Tyler, TX – A Texas special education teacher and two paraprofessionals have been arrested for allegedly abusing a student with Down syndrome, forcing him to walk in circles for over four hours while his hands were taped together and he was subjected to verbal abuse, authorities say.

Krystina Rena Haas, 35, Prisicilla Gutierrez, 22, and June Tryon, 57, were taken into custody on Friday after police reviewed surveillance footage from the March 12 incident at Tyler High School, according to court records.

Disturbing Abuse Caught on Camera

The footage allegedly shows the student, a teenager with special needs, being directed to a life skills room around 11:30 a.m., where he was forced to walk in circles for hours as punishment.

Two hours into the ordeal, Haas, the special education teacher, was seen storming across the room, screaming at the student before ordering Tryon, an aide, to “get the tape.”

Tryon and Gutierrez then allegedly used packing tape to bind the boy’s hands together, restricting his finger movement. Haas reportedly added more tape to further tighten the binding.

While the student continued to walk in circles with his hands taped, Gutierrez allegedly sat back down and resumed crocheting. After another 30 minutes, the student was forced to stand in a corner for nearly two hours until the school day ended.

The student’s grandmother reported the abuse after noticing bruises on her grandson when she picked him up from the school bus.

Teacher Defends Actions, Calls Punishment ‘Common Practice’

When questioned by police, Haas defended the alleged abuse, claiming it was common to make students walk for 10 to 15 minutes as discipline.

“It’s not going to hurt them to stand for four hours or to walk,” she reportedly told officers, adding, “They’re not precious babies, they’re 14 or 15-year-old teenage kids.”

She admitted that this was the only student whose hands had ever been taped, but also revealed that it had happened to him before.

Arrests and Charges

Haas, Tryon, and Gutierrez have been charged with injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual. Haas’ bond was set at $300,000, while the other two aides were each held on a $150,000 bond.

Following their arrests, all three educators were fired from the school district.

Community Outrage

The case has sparked outrage among parents and disability advocates, who are calling for stronger protections for special needs students.

Authorities continue to investigate whether additional incidents of abuse have occurred at the school.