Pennsylvania Soccer Players Duct Taped Autistic Boy to Goal Posts

[Jazzy]

Police are investigating after an autistic boy was duct taped to soccer goal posts and left there for an extended period of time. 16-year-old Austin Babinsack says that the Highlands High School soccer team left him duct taped to the goal for approximately 15 minutes while they went back to the school to get another student.

“I was really shaken, I thought I was gonna be stuck there for a long time,” Babinsack told KDKA. He says he was forced into a car by two older players on the team and driven to the field, where they affixed him to a goalpost.

The teen, screaming for help, was found by an off-duty Pennsylvania State Trooper, who freed him from his predicament.

“He was terrified, he could have died, he could have had a heart attack from being so stressed out, he was screaming at the top of his lungs,” the teen’s mother, Kristy Babinsack, told the station. “I feel the coach knew, he wasn’t there, but he knew it was happening, he knows that it’s been going on. He’s the adult, these are kids let’s face it they’re 17. We have to hold the adults accountable first before we can hold the kids accountable.”

“They duct taped my hands, my legs, all the way up to my waist, and then they attempted to try to take a picture of it. I told them no, and they walked off disappointed,” said the teen.

The Highlands School district suspended coach Jim Turner, who was not present, and two players for at least five days.

“Highlands School District does not take matters such as hazing and bullying lightly. The district issues strict disciplinary action on students who think these actions are appropriate and harmless,” the district said in a statement.

Austin is returning to school, but he has encountered difficulties since. His mother says that when he attended a soccer game since the incident, players ridiculed him and called him a “snitch.”

Watch a report on this disgusting bullying

Do you think getting a five day suspension for doing this is enough punishment? Why/Why not?

 

[DrLeftover]

... ... ... .... where was that thread about how teenagers make good decisions and should be given more responsibility even earlier in life... ... hang on, I'll go look for it.

 

[Nebulous]

I've been tied to a pole before when I was a kid and left there. It was the post on the back porch of our house, older brother and his friend did it and left, nobody else was home so I just had to stay there for about an hour until my mom came home from the grocery store.

“He was terrified, he could have died, he could have had a heart attack from being so stressed out, he was screaming at the top of his lungs,” the teen’s mother, Kristy Babinsack, told the station

Doubt it.

 

[DrLeftover]

I've been tied to a pole before when I was a kid and left there. It was the post on the back porch of our house, older brother and his friend did it and left, nobody else was home so I just had to stay there for about an hour until my mom came home from the grocery store.

“He was terrified, he could have died, he could have had a heart attack from being so stressed out, he was screaming at the top of his lungs,” the teen’s mother, Kristy Babinsack, told the station

Doubt it.

You may wish to retract that statement.

An Autistic child will respond differently to stress than a 'normal person'.

They can become extremely agitated, and that can cause seizures or asthma attacks among other complications.


You could start here:
http://www.healthline.com/health/autism-complications#WhatIsAutism?1

 

[Nebulous]

Don't want to come off as ignorant, but I still doubt it. I've worked around several autistic children and they can get pretty hyped up into high stress situations without clutching their heart and keeling over.

 

[DrLeftover]

Don't want to come off as ignorant, but I still doubt it. I've worked around several autistic children and they can get pretty hyped up into high stress situations without clutching their heart and keeling over.

And I watched one end up having serious asthma attack over what he wanted for dinner not being available.

I guess it depends on the child and what other medical issues they have.