Update: The following statement has been released by the American School for the Deaf regarding the April 30 incident:

The health and safety of our students and staff is always our number one priority. Regarding the incident, we acted appropriately according to our policies and the laws set forth by the state. When it was determined that the student's behavior posed a threat to himself and others, the West Hartford Police were called. Once the police arrived, they took control of the situation. Our staff remained in the area to provide appropriate support to the student. Original story: West Hartford police used a Taser to subdue a 12-year-old deaf boy at the American School for the Deaf in April, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court recently.

The suit, filed against the ASD, two West Hartford police officers, the town and two ASD staffers in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on Sept. 11, also alleges that ASD staff abused the boy in a separate incident and subsequently retaliated against him to have him withdraw from the school. The boy - identified as A.M. in court documents - is from the Bronx, N.Y. is profoundly deaf and has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the suit states. According to the suit, he was forcibly thrown to the ground by school staff in March 2013, resulting in "significant head injuries" in addition to frightening the boy.

The suit alleges that on April 30, A.M. was denied a request for food when ASD staff members were taking orders. When A.M. attempted to contact his parents through a videophone, ASD staff member Chris Hammond "pulled the wires out of the videophone and disconnected the call." A.M., upset that he could not speak to his parents, fled to a nearby construction site on campus, pursued by Hammond and two other ASD staff members, the suit alleges.

Hammond allegedly punched A.M. in the face and A.M. grabbed a stick to defend himself, the complaint says.

West Hartford police were called to the scene, and officers Paul Gionfriddo and Christopher Lyth responded, according to the complaint.

Gionfriddo used a Taser on A.M., who was "sitting calmly with his back facing Officer Gionfriddo," the suit says. One prong of the Taser hit A.M. on the mid-back, while another hit him on his buttocks "causing burns, paralysis and pain throughout his body as he hit the ground and the police rushed him and forcibly handcuffed him." A.M. was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford. In June 2013, ASD retaliated against A.M. by accusing him of watching and printing pornography, according to the suit.