Investigation expands
Police receive videos of two more incidents believed related to all-boys’ school in Toronto
An investigation into allegations of assault and sexual assault at St. Michael’s College School has expanded after police said Tuesday they have received videos of two more incidents they believe are related to the private all-boys’ school in Toronto.
Insp. Domenic Sinopoli, the head of the Toronto police sex crimes unit, said officers were trying to identify all the persons in the videos, one of which involved an assault with a weapon.
The second incident was a threat, noting that no one was injured in those incidents.
“As it stands right now, we are investigating them as criminal offences, but that is not to say they are criminal offences,” he said at a news conference.
The weapon used in the alleged assault was a belt, Sinopoli said as he urged both victims and witnesses to come forward.
“I would rather that the persons who have been victimized or witnesses come to us rather than us coming to you,” he said.
The latest incidents bring to six the number of cases under police investigation that involve students of the Roman Catholic school that teaches grades 7 to 12.
Police and the school have said two of those incidents involved an alleged sexual assault.
Six teens from the school were arrested Monday and charged with assault, gang sexual assault, and sexual assault with a weapon in connection with one of the incidents.
Five of the teens turned themselves in to police, while another one was arrested while on his way to school.
All six boys, aged 14 and 15, were released on bail on Monday afternoon. Their next court appearance is on Dec. 19.
Police have said they believe there are more incidents and more videos.
St. Michael’s 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.
Both incidents were captured on video.