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Teacher accused of dragging autistic boy across classroom

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — WFTV learned a special needs teacher could be arrested for allegedly dragging a 5-year-old autistic boy across the floor of a classroom.

Investigators said it happened last month at Narcoossee Elementary School in Saint Cloud.

In early June, parents Craig and Nina Hanson got a call that their son, Phoenix Hanson, had been hurt by his teacher, Pranee Andrus.

The little boy isn't able to communicate at times because he's autistic, according to a report, a teacher's aide stepped in and told the teacher to stop the abuse.

"It's just, you go numb. You completely, it doesn't make sense. It doesn't compute," said Hanson's mother, Nina Moreno.

"He tried to get away from her and he ran to a corner. (I'm) not sure, under a desk, and she went and drug him out by his leg, which caused him to get rug burn on his elbow," said Hanson's father, Craig Hanson.

Andrus was apparently upset with Phoenix because he wasn't sharing toys.

Andrus is accused of asking his classmates to bully him.

"She would ask other students, 'Should I hit him?' You know? Then encouraged them to him and kick him," said Moreno.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office investigated and filed child abuse charges with the state attorney's office for review.

WFTV was told the charges went through two days ago.

Late Wednesday, WFTV went by the Andrus' home.

"Let me talk to my attorney," she told WFTV.

"You don't have anything to say about the allegations?" WFTV's Ryan Hughes asked.

"No," she replied.

Andrus is also accused of holding scissors to student's tongues and ankles when they misbehaved.

"This is real. This is happening. It happened in our back yard. It happened to our son. So every single day when we drop him off, when the bus picks him up, we have to live with the idea that this happens," said Moreno.

The school district is also investigating the incident.

The teacher will be reassigned to another district position when school resumes in the fall.