Police and school officials are investigating a mother's allegations that her 5-year-old son was handcuffed and taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation after throwing a temper tantrum in his Queens kindergarten.

Jasmina Vasquez tells the Daily News her son, Dennis Rivera, was "scared to death" by the Jan. 17 incident at PS 81.

Police spokesman Paul Browne and a city Education Department spokeswoman declined to discuss specifics Thursday, saying the incident was under investigation.

Vasquez says she and a baby sitter raced to the school after a guidance counselor called her to say Dennis was being taken to the hospital. The baby sitter says she found the 68-pound boy in handcuffs.

Vasquez said the hospital evaluated and released the boy, now in private school.