Teacher arrested after police say she used dog whistle to control autistic student
The educator is no longer employed by the Waco Independent School District.
A Texas elementary school teacher was arrested and charged this week after being accused of using an electronic dog whistle to control an autistic student, officials say.
The Waco Independent School District Police Department arrested Amber Escamilla, 46, on Tuesday, April 29, upon receiving notice from Child Protective Services that she had been using a dog whistle to control a six-year-old autistic student at Bell's Hill Elementary School in Waco, Texas, arrest records state. She is being charged with intentional bodily injury to a child, elderly person, or disabled individual, an offense that can result in a felony conviction.
Escamilla was released on a $3,000 bond on Wednesday, April 30, Texas' McLennan County Sheriff's Office told Paste BN on Friday.
The victim's mother told detectives that at the beginning of 2024, her child often came home and cried about the "fire alarms" hurting his ears at school, the arrest records obtained by Paste BN state.
Witnesses detail how teacher used dog whistle on student
A staff member at Bell's Hill Elementary School told detectives that around November 2024, Escamilla had entered the staff break room and placed a device on the table, explaining that she used it when the student got loud in class, according to records.
Another witness at the school told detectives that in September 2024, she had witnessed Escamilla using the whistle in her classroom to gain compliance, records state. The witness observed the victim covering their ears and pleading for Escamilla to stop.
Escamilla admitted to purchasing the whistle, telling detectives that the whistle was exclusively for playground use and that she had only used it once, according to arrest records. She told detectives she only displayed the whistle rather than using it around the victim.
Teacher no longer works at school district
Escamilla, who was employed at Bell's Hill Elementary School for less than a year is no longer employed by the district, a Waco Independent School District spokesperson told Paste BN.
"The actions under review do not reflect the values or expectations we hold for our staff," the spokesperson said in a statement. "Waco ISD remains committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students."
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.