DELTONA, Fla. -- Eyewitnesses say a special needs teacher shoved an autistic student into a bathroom and wouldn't let him out. Eyewitnesses say the student even knocked his wheelchair over trying to escape.

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The investigation started after a teacher's assistant at Deltona Middle School complained about what was going on.

This was the teacher's first job out of college and, if she's prosecuted, it may be her last teaching job. Biying Hu, 27, went from eager young teacher to inmate. She was arrested Wednesday for abusing and imprisoning one of her own special education students.

"These teachers are supposed to be guiding our children, not abusing them," said parent Deborah Hicks.

Parents of students at Deltona Middle School can't believe the news. According to the sheriffs department, an autistic 12-year-old boy was acting up in class. Hu allegedly strapped the boy into a wheelchair and locked him in the bathroom.

When the boy started slamming against the door, Hu ordered a teaching assistant to sit in a desk propped against the door to hold him in. The assistant heard the boy's cries for help and opened the door to find the child tipped over, lying on the ground.

"That is totally uncalled for. They shouldn't even be teaching," said substitute teacher Ruth Varella.

Varella works with special needs kids. She says it takes a special kind of person to deal with these children.

"Yeah, it's hard to work with them, but you have to be patient for them," she said.

The district would not comment on Wednesday's arrest, but they did say that Hu does not have a disciplinary record.

Parents say crimes like this shake their faith in the school.

"I think they should be more careful what adults are with your student," said parent Diane Sloup.

The sheriff's report says Hu admitted to the crime and said she didn't know what to do with the unruly child. She has been released on her own recognizance.