Police: Student hanged himself

GAINESVILLE - A 13-year-old boy hanged himself at the special education center he attended, authorities said Tuesday.

An autopsy determined that the death was a suicide.

Staff at the Alpine School found the boy Monday behind the door in the bare room he had been sent to because of a behavior problem, Alpine Program director Stan Stover said.

He hanged himself with twine a teacher had given him earlier that day to hold up his baggy pants, officials said.

There were no signs of foul play, police said.

``I never anticipated that this student would ever do anything to hurt himself,'' Stover said. ``Some warn you. This (child) didn't.''

The youngster had been removed from class because of a behavior problem but was being watched by a teacher's assistant, Stover said. The room he was put in has no furniture or even a doorknob. The door must be held shut from outside, Stover said. Staff can check on students in seclusion through a window in the door.

The practice is used to calm youth, avoiding physical intervention or restraint, Stover explained.

In this case case, the assistant was beside the door and looking in on him every 15 minutes, as policy requires, Stover said. He would not say how long the boy was in seclusion. But Stover said the last check did not wait 15 minutes.

"The official cause of death was ruled by the medical examiner as suicide by hanging," said Sgt. Nina Harkins of the Gainesville Police Department

The school is located inside the Butler Center on Athens Street.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)