Mother speaks out after son with autism detained for two days

JANESVILLE, Minn. (KMSP) - A mother is speaking out after her son, who has autism, was locked up in juvenile detention facility for attacking his teachers. 

She claims her son should have been taken to a hospital. 

“I cried,” said Tamara Frazee, the boy’s mother. “I stayed crying for over 24 hours. Nobody told me what’s going on with him.”

Frazee says she feels like she and her son, who has autism, have lived through a nightmare.

“It’s the worst possible scenario you could think of,” said Frazee.

Last Wednesday, 10-year-old Trystan was taken into police custody. According to court documents provided by the family, it’s alleged Trystan had violent outbursts on consecutive days inside his Janesville school. Prosecutors wrote that Trystan had become angry and stabbed a school staffer in the hand with a pencil before punching, kicking, and head-butting a couple others as they attempted to restrain him. His behavior is described as “an ongoing problem.”

“He doesn't have what we all have when we get upset: the ability to calm ourselves,” said Frazee.

Neither the school nor law enforcement could comment on the specifics of the allegations, citing student and juvenile confidentiality. Frazee told Fox 9 after Trystan was cleared from a Mankato hospital as no longer being a danger to himself or others after last week’s episodes, Janesville police didn't bring the youngster home. Instead, they took Trystan to a juvenile detention center, where he was housed for nearly 48 hours in an environment his mother believes was horribly detrimental for her son.

“He stripped down naked,” said Frazee. “Slapped himself in the stomach. He was screaming and wailing, throwing water all over the room. He didn’t know what to do, why he was there."

Frazee acknowledges her son is prone to aggressive outbursts, but she explained they can be controlled in the proper setting with trained staff.

“I feel like no matter how much I advocate for him, I can’t get him what he needs,” said Frazee. “I feel like the services aren't there. The understanding of his condition is not there.”

Frazee told Fox 9 she is getting Trystan help and has tried working with the local school district, but she feels the system failed them last week.