An Allderdice High School student is learning not to pick on the teacher's pet.

The student, a 17-year-old freshman with a history of disruptive behavior, has been suspended for 10 days and faces charges of animal cruelty after police said he took a teacher's snake, twirled it and made motions to jump rope with it.

The student was not identified.

Pittsburgh police Officer Christine Luffey said she was contacted Tuesday by school district police Chief Robert Fadzen regarding an incident involving a 4-foot albino corn snake.

Ms. Luffey spoke with the teacher, whom she declined to identify, and last night was preparing to inform the student's parents that he would be arrested. The animal cruelty charge carries a possible fine of $750.

The school already has suspended the student for the incident, which happened in a classroom at 1:45 p.m. last Thursday during a break between classes.

"He was swinging the snake in the motion of a jump rope," Ms. Luffey said, but the teacher said she didn't think he actually jumped over it.

The snake, which the teacher has had for 10 years, is alive. Ms. Luffey said she encouraged the teacher to take it to a veterinarian specializing in reptiles, but she did not know if the teacher had done so.

Albino corn snakes -- or red rat snakes -- are docile, nonpoisonous snakes that subdue their prey, usually mice and small birds, by constriction. The albinos have distinct red eyes and are popular pets.

Ms. Luffey emphasized that her involvement is not entirely about the snake. It's also about the student.

"He's been extremely disruptive and actually has committed crimes in the school," she said, listing offensives that have included fighting, throwing pencils and books at classmates and teachers, cutting classes, drawing on his desk, punching lockers, running out of class without permission, pushing a girl to the floor, chasing girls into a rest room, entering the girls' rest room and stealing video games. During his school years, he has been suspended for 88 days.

"We want this done right," Ms. Luffey said. "We want this juvenile to receive the services and treatments that he needs. Just looking at this kid's record, I mean, my goal is to get him treatment. He needs help."

Ms. Luffey said, "Cruelty to animals is a serious crime and offenders must be punished. I get calls every day about people asking for assistance with abused animals.

"But this is the first time I've heard of something this bizarre."