Cops looking at 2 more videos in boys school investigation
Investigators say one shows an alleged assault with a belt, the other involved ‘threatening’
Police are investigating two more videos in an ongoing probe at St. Michael’s College School, the latest development in a mounting crisis at the prestigious all-boys private school.
Toronto police Insp. Domenic Sinopoli of the sex crimes unit on Tuesday told reporters that police are investigating “two additional occurrences” related to the videos.
He said one video shows an alleged assault with a weapon — a belt — a detail he shared hoping it would get witnesses and victims to come forward to police with more information.
Police spokesperson Caroline de Kloet earlier said the second video involved “threatening.”
Sinopoli said he can’t confirm if the people in the video are students at St. Michael’s. But he said the videos “came to us through the course of the investigation” of a series of serious incidents at the school, noting the school has been “completely co-operative and forthright” with police.
He said police now have four videos in total, and worries about the “continued trauma” for victims from the videos being shared on social media.
In total, police are now investigating six incidents at the elite all-boys institution. On Monday, six boys were charged and released on bail in an alleged sexual assault in a school locker room. The boys are all younger teens, and cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The bail hearing details and the identity of the complainant were also covered by a publication ban.
Their charges are all in relation to a single incident that was captured on video and posted to social media depicting an alleged sexual assault of a teen boy.
The 22-second video, which has been viewed by the Star, shows the teen held down by a group of boys in a locker room while he is allegedly sexually assaulted with what appears to be a broomstick.
The principal of St. Mike’s, Greg Reeves, has faced criticism for not calling police about the video after he received it on the evening of Nov. 12. He gave it to police when they arrived at the school two days later, after officers received reports of the video from media.
Reeves said at a Monday afternoon news conference that he always intended to call police, but wanted to first inform the victims’ parents, and was busy with expulsion meetings.
“I know I’m being criticized for that, but I’ve spoken with the victim’s parents, they are very pleased with the timeline, and I think that we’re helping the healing of that victim,” Reeves told reporters gathered in an alumni lounge.
Sinopoli said the timeline is not the focus of the investigation at the moment.
“We’re going to go through this meticulously and whatever the investigation reveals, it will reveal — including the reporting issue,” he told reporters Tuesday.
The other three incidents include one alleged sexual assault and two alleged assaults, police said at a news conference Monday.
In response to the incidents, St. Mike’s has cancelled 2018 mid-year assessments and all events with external groups, teams and public performances for the rest of 2018. The school has also postponed a fundraising fashion show, according to a statement posted on its website Tuesday.
The statement added that the school sent two digital files to police Sunday without reviewing the contents.
The administration does not know if the videos police discussed Tuesday are those files, the statement said, but they are co-operating with them to determine the identities of the individuals in the videos.
The Catholic school expelled eight students and suspended another one in connection with the two videos from last week, both of which allegedly took place on campus.
Over the weekend, the school announced an independent third-party investigation into the school’s culture. The “SMCS Respect and Culture Review” will look at the traditions, rituals and social practices of students. Parents and alumni will also be consulted.
It will be led by a three-member independent committee of prominent citizens individuals who don’t have any connection to the school and a final report is expected by the summer. Recommendations will be implemented by the start of the 2019-20 school year.
The school has also set up an anonymous voice-mail hotline and are hiring a full-time social worker.