Six teens were arrested and charged Monday in connection with an alleged sexual assault at an all-boys private school in Toronto as police said they were looking into more incidents and additional charges could follow.
Police said five teens, accompanied by their parents or lawyers, turned themselves in to police, while a sixth student was arrested on his way to school. They said the investigation continues into three other incidents B次元官网网址� one an alleged sexual assault.
Insp. Dominic Sinopoli said the six boys who attended St. MichaelB次元官网网址檚 College School each face charges of assault, gang sexual assault, and sexual assault with a weapon in connection with an incident that allegedly took place on campus and was captured on video.
B次元官网网址淲e have reason to believe there are more incidents and more videos,B次元官网网址� Sinopoli told a news conference.
The school, whose failure to promptly report the alleged assault and sexual assault to authorities has come under criticism, said it supported the decision by police.
B次元官网网址淲e believe charges are absolutely appropriate in these circumstances,B次元官网网址� the school said in a statement. B次元官网网址淲e will continue to work in full co-operation with the police as they continue their investigation and we are at their disposal.B次元官网网址�
St. MichaelB次元官网网址檚, a Roman Catholic school that teaches grades 7 to 12 and is known for its athletics program, expelled eight students and suspended another one in connection with the alleged sexual assault in a locker room and another incident that police said involved hazing and was also captured on video.
Police sources have said the locker room incident involved a group of students on the football team pinning down another student and allegedly sexually assaulting him with a broom handle. Those sources said the hazing incident involved members of the basketball team bullying a student in the washroom and soaking him with water.
Sinopoli said Monday that the victim of the alleged sexual assault was doing OK.
B次元官网网址淗e has gotten the support he needs and deserves,B次元官网网址� he said.
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Sinopoli said detectives were informed about the alleged sexual assault through the media on Wednesday. As a result, he said, an officer was dispatched to the school.
B次元官网网址淧rior to arriving, Toronto police corporate communications received further information from the media indicating the expulsions were believed to be related to sexual assault involving an object,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen the officer arrived and after speaking with the principal, he confirmed expulsionsB次元官网网址ere in response to a video that showed or depicted a sexual assault.B次元官网网址�
The school initially said it had informed police of two incidents, including the alleged sexual assault of a student, on Monday. However, the schoolB次元官网网址檚 principal, Greg Reeves, admitted in a series of media interviews on Sunday that he did not report the alleged sexual assault on Monday because the alleged victim had not yet told his family about the incident.
Sinopoli said the school should have reported the incident immediately.
A number of legal experts said that in Ontario, schools have an obligation under the Child and Family Services Act to report instances where a child aged 15 and under has been or could be sexually assaulted to the ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Aid Society.
The school has said the ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Aid Society was not contacted, and though the ages of the students involved in the alleged incidents are not known, sexual abuse lawyer Rob Talach said he would have expected the school to call child protective services.
B次元官网网址淚 would think as an educator you would err on the side of caution and say, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 not sure if everybody in there was over the age of 16, so IB次元官网网址檓 going to report it to CAS,B次元官网网址� and then CAS can bring in the police,B次元官网网址� he said.
Sinopoli said the investigation has expanded and police are now looking into another case of sexual assault and two more alleged assaults involving at least four victims.
B次元官网网址淢ore than 50 witnesses have been identified and more information comes to us daily,B次元官网网址� Sinopoli said. B次元官网网址淲e also know there are several videos being circulated. We are in possession of these videos.B次元官网网址�
He also called on students and any one in possession of the video of the alleged sexual assault to delete it immediately from their cellphones or other devices as the clip constituted child pornography.
B次元官网网址淲e are very concerned about the distribution of the videos on social media,B次元官网网址� Sinopoli said. B次元官网网址淭he unintended consequences are far reaching and detrimental to the recovery of the victim.B次元官网网址�
In a statement released Sunday, St. MichaelB次元官网网址檚 said itB次元官网网址檚 launching an B次元官网网址渋ndependent examinationB次元官网网址� into what it called B次元官网网址渦nderlying attitudes and behaviours inconsistent with its culture and values.B次元官网网址�
Reeves said an B次元官网网址渆xternal review committeeB次元官网网址� will be created in the next two to three weeks. He hopes a preliminary examination will be done by spring, with a more in-depth investigation to be completed by next summer.
Sinopoli acknowledged that tensions in the school were high due to the recent events. St. MichaelB次元官网网址檚 principal was unable to attend the news conference Monday due to a security threat at the school.
Police said they had also received unconfirmed reports of threats against St. MichaelB次元官网网址檚 students on social media and in public.
B次元官网网址淲e want to reiterate that we are monitoring social media and weB次元官网网址檒l act on any reports of reprisals, retaliation, violence or threats of violence,B次元官网网址� Sinopoli said.
Liam Casey and Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
