Waco Teacher Charged for Dog Whistle Use on Student

Amber Escamilla, a 46-year-old former teacher at Bell’s Hill Elementary in Waco, Texas, has been arrested and charged with injury to a child or disabled person after allegedly using an electronic dog whistle to control a 6-year-old autistic student who is sensitive to sound. Arrest documents indicate Escamilla used the whistle when the boy became overstimulated, with a witness observing the child covering his ears and pleading for her to stop. The student's parents reported that their son wore earmuffs to school and would return home crying about ear pain, initially believed to be caused by fire alarms. Escamilla told colleagues she used the device to quiet the boy and admitted to police that she used it at least once on the playground, though she claimed she mainly threatened its use for compliance. Staff and witness accounts conflict with Escamilla's statements, indicating the whistle was also used in the classroom. If convicted of the third-degree felony, Escamilla faces up to 10 years in prison.