ST. PAUL — A St. Paul Public Schools assistant principal who had a middle school student handcuffed for being disruptive received a three-day suspension without pay.

The disciplinary letter signed by the assistant school superintendent says Gene Ward Jr. showed “extremely poor professional judgment” in his decision to have the student handcuffed. The Pioneer Press obtained details of Ward’s January suspension through an open records request.

The incident happened at Battle Creek Middle School after Ward questioned a student about cellphones stolen from a locker room. Ward’s disciplinary letter says he ordered a security guard to handcuff the student because he was being loud and disruptive.

Ward told the newspaper he made his decision and “got consequences for it” and that he understands the concerns about placing students in handcuffs. He now works another school.