WACO, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) – A former Waco elementary school teacher was arrested Tuesday on allegations she used an electronic dog whistle to help control a student with autism.

Amber Escamilla, 46, a former teacher at Bell’s Hill Elementary School, is facing a charge of causing injury to a child or disabled person, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

According to arrest records, Waco Independent School District police detectives received a referral from child protective services about possible abuse of an autistic student by Escamilla.

The report said Escamilla, a 10-year teaching veteran who moved to Waco with her family last year, used an electronic dog whistle “on the child when he got overstimulated.”

Detectives said they met with the boy’s parents, who said they provided earmuffs for him to wear at school because he is sensitive to sounds.

“The boy’s mother described how the beginning of last year, he would come home and cry about going to school because the fire alarms would hurt his ears,” the affidavit stated.

Detectives met April 23 with the school principal, who told them she confiscated an electronic whistle from Escamilla in November 2024.

“A staff member was interviewed who advised that around November 2024, the defendant came into the break room and placed a device on the table, telling coworkers that she had this for when the victim ‘gets loud,’ stating that when she clicked it, he would stop,” arrest documents stated.

The affidavit alleges Escamilla told detectives earlier this month that she bought the whistle “for the purpose of outside playground use, using it only one time on the playground.”

According to the affidavit, “The defendant advised that she would only exhibit the whistle to the victim as a threat to gain compliance.”

Authorities said a detective met with a witness on Monday who provided a voluntary sworn statement that around the end of September 2024, she entered the defendant’s classroom and observed the defendant utilizing the electronic whistle to gain compliance of the victim.

“The witness observed the child covering his ears and pleading for the defendant to stop. The defendant utilized the whistle a second time, with the victim responding in the same way. The witness advised that the child is sensitive to sound and was visibly in pain from the defendant using the whistle,” the affidavit stated.

According to Waco Independent School District, Escamilla is no longer employed by the district.

Wendy Sledd, a spokesperson for the school district, said Escamilla worked for the district for less than a year.

“The actions under review do not reflect the values or expectations we hold for our staff,” Sledd said. “Waco ISD remains committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students. Our Waco ISD Police Department and district staff are cooperating fully with the investigation to help ensure that all relevant information is carefully considered.”