A school district in Alton, IL is standing by the decision of the police to handcuff an 8-year-old child following a temper tantrum she threw at an elementary school on Wednesday morning.

WREG Memphis reported that the family members of Jymha Rickman informed the media that she currently suffers from anxiety problems and separation anxiety. The unidentified girl was said to have needed to be restrained by the Love Joy elementary school's employees in the past.

The school's officials reportedly said that when a student is out of control they are forced to contact the police who then take the child into protective custody.

However, Rickman's family feel that the school should've waited until the family arrived, as was done when the child had meltdowns in the past.

MSN reported that the little girl's guardian said that her hands and feet were cuffed during the ordeal. She was allegedly angry due to having several of her requests to use the restroom denied.

The police said they were contacted by the school after its officials said "a child was out of control, tearing up two classrooms."

Rickman was reportedly taken to the Alton Police Department, where she was allegedly held in a jail cell for two hours.

The school's officials have yet to comment on the situation.

Tags: offbeat