AVON PARK, Fla. -- Police arrested a 6-year-old Florida girl and even handcuffed her when she acted out in class. Police officers said Desre'e Watson, a kindergarten student at Avon Elementary School in Highlands County, had a violent run-in with a teacher on Thursday.

"I was scared," the little girl said.

Police claim the little girl got angry and began kicking and scratching. She even hit a teacher attempting to intervene in the disturbance.

However, the girl's mother doesn't believe the story.

"She never fell out. She is very respectful. If I tell her to do anything, she will do it," Lateshia Wilson said.

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School officials said they were forced to call the local police department, who cuffed the child and put her in a police cruiser. The little girl's mother is angry and said her daughter is usually very respectful.

"I was very upset about that and I feel like they violated my baby's rights," Wilson said.

The chief of police said his officers did the right thing.

"When there is an outburst of violence, we have a duty to protect and make that school a safe environment for the students, staff and faculty. That's why, at this point, the person was arrested regardless what the age," said Chief Frank Mercurio, Avon Park Police Department.

The kindergartner was booked in the Highland County jail and was charged with a felony and two misdemeanors.