A Connecticut high school student was pulled out of class and reported to police for substituting "ISIS" for the "United States of America" during the Pledge of Allegiance.

School administrators made the complaint on Oct. 9 and Lt. Andrew Cota said the 15-year-old student at Ansonia High School wasn't charged, but the case was turned over to the Department of Homeland Security, as police do with any case they feel needs to be brought to the federal department's attention.

“We know that it was not of threatening nature to any of the students in the class or the school of any sort there was an interaction between this student and other students and the teacher over hearing comments he was making," said Lt. Andrew Cota with the Ansonia Police Department.

Police said there is no danger to the community. Federal officials declined to comment.

The boy, who wasn't identified, now attends classes in a Board of Education annex building.

An attorney representing the school and Board of Education said the boy's dismissal was "out of an abundance of caution."

Supt. Carol Merlone released a statement, saying the schools did not deem the incident a legitimate threat to the safety of students or staff.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the incident was reported to the appropriate authorities. As far as the Ansonia Public Schools is concerned, the matter is resolved. Because student information is confidential under the law, please realize that we are not at liberty to comment further except to reiterate that we are satisfied that the situation does not pose a risk to safety at the school," she said in the statement.

Ansonia Police first took over the investigation, but because of the sensitive nature of the matter it was handed off to Homeland Security.

“It’s the climate we’re in today and these are kind of the results of what you get," said Lt. Cota.

The school system would not comment on the status of the 15-year-old student or whether he received any punishment, but meeting notes posted online from the latest Ansonia Board of Education Meeting show that the student’s mother spoke out during the meeting. In that meeting, the mother said her son is now being educated in an annex at the Board of Education, not as a disciplinary measure, but because of what she claims is a hostile environment at Ansonia High.

NBC Connecticut was not able to reach the student’s mother for comment.



Ansonia Police say there was never a criminal investigation by their department…and the student will not face any charges.Homeland Security has since documented the case and closed its investigation.

Catalina Trivino contributed to this report.