Toronto police investigating incidents of assault and sexual assault at private school

The Toronto Police are investigating several allegations of assault and sexual assault at a private school amid multiple explosions after an incident was captured on video.

A total of eight students were expelled from St. Michael’s College School in relation to two separate incidents, one of which involved the alleged assault of a teen. That incident was videotaped and has prompted a criminal investigation.

The school said today that it had also reported a third incident to police, but did not provide any further information.

The Toronto Police said in a release that on Nov. 14, 2018, officers from 13 Division and the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre were made aware of an alleged sexual assault involving students at St. Michael’s College School.

Since then, investigators have been working cooperatively with the school's administration and, as a result, a number of occurrences involving incidents of alleged assaultive and sexually assaultive behaviour have been opened.

“The incidents are all different and we believe there may be more victims,” police spokeswoman Meaghan Gray said on Friday without providing further details.

On Wednesday, the Toronto Police issued a warning about the video, which they believe is being circulated.

“Investigators from the Child Exploitation Section have been consulted and have determined the video meets the definition of child pornography,” police said. “Anyone who has this video is in possession of child pornography. The video must be deleted immediately and cannot be shared with anyone.”

There has been some concern regarding whether or not the incident was reported to the police promptly enough by the school. The school, which had initially said it reported both incidents to police on Monday, acknowledged Friday that it had not done so but did not explain the discrepancy.

An email was sent to parents regarding the alleged sexual assault on Tuesday. The school said that it had launched an internal investigation which included interviews with the involved students and their parents.

“We understand and share the anger and distress that such horrible acts could happen on our school grounds involving boys in our care,” the school said in the email. “It is unacceptable and falls far short of upholding the principles we strive to live by.”

Questions about the school’s response to the alleged incident came up after the initial statement that it had notified police about two incidents on Monday, which police disputed.

A police spokesperson said officers launched an investigation into an alleged sex assault incident on Wednesday, but only after receiving media inquiries about a video circulating online. Sources said it was police that reached out to the school on Wednesday.

The school made available a timeline of events online, showing when they took action in response to the incidents.

Police sources said that the incident being criminally investigated, which took place in a locker room, involved a group of students on the football team pinning down another student and allegedly assaulting him with a broom handle. A previous incident reportedly involved members of the basketball team bullying another student in a washroom.

“As school administrators and educators, we bear a heavy responsibility to help guide our students through a challenging period in their lives — when external forces are often in conflict with the notion of doing the right thing — and these incidents were a stark reminder that we have more work to do,” the school said.

Police believe there may be other victims and witnesses and are encouraging anyone who has not yet spoken to investigators to come forward by calling the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre at 416-808-2922, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on their Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

- With files from The Canadian Press.