A Long Island teacher allegedly tied an autistic boy to a chair with rope. Now his parents are going to file a lawsuit.

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — The parents of a student with autism have sued a Long Island school district for $3 million after a teacher allegedly tied their son to a chair in a special education classroom.

Karla and Carlos Diaz said leaders at New Hyde Park Memorial School did not inform them of the incident involving their 15-year-old son until the next day, when they learned his teacher had been suspended.

“They called me and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Mr. Diaz, your son was tied to the chair with a rope in front of the teacher. We called the police,'” Carlos Diaz told CBS New York. “The police came to my house to check on my son.”

Rope was wrapped around the boy’s stomach, family attorney says

The Diazes’ son, who is nonverbal, attends two high schools in the Sewanhaka district: Elmont and New Hyde Park. The couple plans to sue both.

“A rope around his stomach tying him to a chair,” said the couple’s attorney, Stephanie Ovadia, who obtained the Nassau County police report. “What we know is what the police report itself stated: there were two witnesses to this, another teacher and a nurse.”

“When we learned of the incident, we immediately initiated an investigation, the teacher was removed from the classroom and the appropriate authorities were immediately contacted, including the Nassau County Police Department and the New York State Department of Education,” said Dr. Thomas Dolan. Interim Superintendent of Schools for the Sewanhaka Central High School District.

Harnesses used in some rare cases

We’re told that lap belt harnesses can be used in some schools on rare occasions, but only with parental permission.

The Diazes said they did not give consent and received no notification that their son was misbehaving at school.

“He understands, but he doesn’t say anything. So I don’t know how many times this has happened,” Diaz said. “I love my son. He’s special. He’s a very, very, very nice boy.”

The Diazes said their son no longer wants to go to school. Nassau County police confirmed they are still investigating.