Coach, 2 players suspended over duct-taped player
PITTSBURGH - Police are investigating after an autistic boy was allegedly duct-taped to a soccer goal post by teammates, reports CBS Pittsburgh.
The incident allegedly happened Sunday night at Highlands High School in Natrona Heights, a Pittsburgh suburb.
Sixteen-year-old Austin Babinsack says he was left duc- taped to the goal for approximately 15 minutes, according to the station.
"I was really shaken, I thought I was gonna be stuck there for a long time," Austin told CBS Pittsburgh in an exclusive interview.
"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," Austin said.
An off-duty Pennsylvania State Trooper found him and helped free him, according to the station.
"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," Austin's mother, Kristy Babinsack, told the station.
Babinsack says Austin is autistic.
Highlands School District has since suspended two of the school's soccer players and the team's coach Jim Turner, who was not present at the time of the incident. The suspension could reportedly last 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 school district said in a statement.
Kristy Babinsack says she feels the district did the right thing in suspending not only the players, but also the coach.
"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," Babinsack said.
The distraught mother added that Austin has been ridiculed and called "a snitch" for speaking up. He has since quit the soccer team.
Harrison Township police tell the station they are investigating the matter.