80s_Fan
04-04-2006, 02:41 PM
Grade 2 girl molested in school washroom
'This is our highest-priority case,' chief says
Bill Mah
The Edmonton Journal
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
CREDIT: John Lucas, The Journal
Students at Oliver school hug after a lockdown prompted by the sexual assault of a Grade 2 girl was lifted Monday.
EDMONTON - A Grade 2 girl was sexually assaulted in the Oliver school washroom Monday morning, touching off a massive police investigation and prompting fears from concerned parents.
The girl was on her way to the playground with friends as recess began at the elementary-junior high school at about 10:15 a.m. when she decided to make a stop at the washroom first.
"When she got into the bathroom she found she wasn't alone," said police spokesman Jeff Wuite. "There was a strange male in one of the stalls in the girls' bathroom. He grabbed her, sexually assaulted her, then left."
The man groped her, police said.
"The girl collected herself and managed to get to a teacher," Wuite said. "That is when the teacher called EPS."
Police arrived six minutes later, Wuite said, and the case became the department's top priority.
The girl, whose name and age were not released, received a bump to her head. She was taken to Stollery Children's Hospital and treated by doctors, then questioned by officers.
Forty officers have been assigned to the investigation, police said.
Some will check files across Canada looking for similar cases.
"I want to stress to everyone, this is our highest-priority case," police Chief Mike Boyd said outside the school. "There is nothing of more priority in this city at this time.
"You have parents that are expecting that their children will be safe when they drop them off at school," he said. "This is why this case has to be our top priority."
Several patrol officers fanned out from the school, visiting walk-up apartments, condos, stores and bungalows near the red-brick school at 10227 118th St., just west of the downtown core. They handed out letters from the school informing parents of the attack and giving a description of the attacker.
Police were looking for a black man about 30 years old who wore a red and white jacket. His medium-length black hair was streaked with orange or yellow.
Boyd asked Oliver school parents to inform police if they hear anything from their children they think might be important to the investigation.
Immediately after the attack, the school went into a "security alert," meaning all outside doors were locked for about two hours. The doors were unlocked just before lunch and classes continued for the day.
Edmonton Public Schools spokeswoman Jane Farrell said Oliver school normally locks all doors, only unlocking the southeast door to give children access to the playground for recess.
Farrell said starting today a supervisor will be stationed at the door to let students in and out.
Two counsellors were sent to the school to help students or staff deal with their fears about the attack.
Some parents heard about the attack on the news or from other parents and came to pick up their children early.
"I heard the news and I was little bit scared," said Angela Correa, the mother of a Grade 9 student.
"I hope there will be more security in school. More cameras and maybe more teachers. Maybe someone should take the children to the washroom and check first."
She said it's possible for someone to slip into the building as school starts.
"It's pretty upsetting in that somebody can just walk into the school and do something like that," said Lacey Finglater, whose five-year-old son is in kindergarten.
She said she should have been called by school officials instead of hearing it on the news. "They have my cellphone number and they still haven't called me."
Students were not immediately told of the attack, but principal Judy Wilkie held two assemblies later to inform them -- one for kindergarten to Grade 6 students and another for girls in the Nellie McClung program, which shares the building.
A letter to parents was sent home with students at the end of the day.
"I want to assure you that student safety is our number 1 priority at Oliver school," Wilkie's letter said.
"We have been reinforcing safety messages with the students about what to do if they are approached by a stranger or if they see something inappropriate."
Wilkie encourages parents to discuss the attack with their children and remind them to avoid talking to strangers.
'This is our highest-priority case,' chief says
Bill Mah
The Edmonton Journal
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
CREDIT: John Lucas, The Journal
Students at Oliver school hug after a lockdown prompted by the sexual assault of a Grade 2 girl was lifted Monday.
EDMONTON - A Grade 2 girl was sexually assaulted in the Oliver school washroom Monday morning, touching off a massive police investigation and prompting fears from concerned parents.
The girl was on her way to the playground with friends as recess began at the elementary-junior high school at about 10:15 a.m. when she decided to make a stop at the washroom first.
"When she got into the bathroom she found she wasn't alone," said police spokesman Jeff Wuite. "There was a strange male in one of the stalls in the girls' bathroom. He grabbed her, sexually assaulted her, then left."
The man groped her, police said.
"The girl collected herself and managed to get to a teacher," Wuite said. "That is when the teacher called EPS."
Police arrived six minutes later, Wuite said, and the case became the department's top priority.
The girl, whose name and age were not released, received a bump to her head. She was taken to Stollery Children's Hospital and treated by doctors, then questioned by officers.
Forty officers have been assigned to the investigation, police said.
Some will check files across Canada looking for similar cases.
"I want to stress to everyone, this is our highest-priority case," police Chief Mike Boyd said outside the school. "There is nothing of more priority in this city at this time.
"You have parents that are expecting that their children will be safe when they drop them off at school," he said. "This is why this case has to be our top priority."
Several patrol officers fanned out from the school, visiting walk-up apartments, condos, stores and bungalows near the red-brick school at 10227 118th St., just west of the downtown core. They handed out letters from the school informing parents of the attack and giving a description of the attacker.
Police were looking for a black man about 30 years old who wore a red and white jacket. His medium-length black hair was streaked with orange or yellow.
Boyd asked Oliver school parents to inform police if they hear anything from their children they think might be important to the investigation.
Immediately after the attack, the school went into a "security alert," meaning all outside doors were locked for about two hours. The doors were unlocked just before lunch and classes continued for the day.
Edmonton Public Schools spokeswoman Jane Farrell said Oliver school normally locks all doors, only unlocking the southeast door to give children access to the playground for recess.
Farrell said starting today a supervisor will be stationed at the door to let students in and out.
Two counsellors were sent to the school to help students or staff deal with their fears about the attack.
Some parents heard about the attack on the news or from other parents and came to pick up their children early.
"I heard the news and I was little bit scared," said Angela Correa, the mother of a Grade 9 student.
"I hope there will be more security in school. More cameras and maybe more teachers. Maybe someone should take the children to the washroom and check first."
She said it's possible for someone to slip into the building as school starts.
"It's pretty upsetting in that somebody can just walk into the school and do something like that," said Lacey Finglater, whose five-year-old son is in kindergarten.
She said she should have been called by school officials instead of hearing it on the news. "They have my cellphone number and they still haven't called me."
Students were not immediately told of the attack, but principal Judy Wilkie held two assemblies later to inform them -- one for kindergarten to Grade 6 students and another for girls in the Nellie McClung program, which shares the building.
A letter to parents was sent home with students at the end of the day.
"I want to assure you that student safety is our number 1 priority at Oliver school," Wilkie's letter said.
"We have been reinforcing safety messages with the students about what to do if they are approached by a stranger or if they see something inappropriate."
Wilkie encourages parents to discuss the attack with their children and remind them to avoid talking to strangers.