ILLINOIS — A Illinois police department is standing behind its decision to arrest an 8-year-old special needs student.

The girl was handcuffed at her Alton school on last Tuesday. Her guardian says he’s outraged his daughter was treated like a criminal.

Jmiyha Rickman was hauled off in the back of a police car from school to the Alton Police Department and was held for nearly two hours.

Police say they had no choice after Rickman took a swing at a school resource officer and tore up two classrooms.

Her guardian says the situation could have been handled better.

“I trusted the school to give her the adequate treatment and care she deserves and they failed us,” said Nehemiah Keeton, Rickman’s uncle and guardian.

Keeton says Rickman is autistic and suffers from separation anxiety and depression.

On Tuesday morning, he got a phone call from Love Joy Elementary School in Alton to pick her up because she was having a tantrum.  He says this has happened several times before.

Keeton was on his way to the school when he got a phone call from police saying Rickman was in custody.

Rickman says her hands and feet were handcuffed and had a belt around her waist.