6 students arrested in connection with alleged sex assaults at St. Michael’s College

Six students have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault at St. Michael’s College School in Toronto.

Toronto police Inspector Dominic Sinopoli, of the unit commander of sex crimes, said the students each face charges of assault, gang sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon.

Sinopoli spoke at a news conference Monday at Toronto Police Service headquarters with Deputy Chief James Ramer.

Ramer said five of the teenagers turned themselves in Monday morning, while a sixth was arrested on his way to school.

They were released on bail to the care of their parents.

Eight students at the all-boys Roman Catholic institution have been expelled and another was suspended in connection with several incidents that were captured on video.

A Toronto police source told The Canadian Press that one of the alleged incidents involved a group of students on the football team pinning down another student and allegedly sexually assaulting him with a broom handle.

The school acknowledged it did not report the alleged sexual assault to police as soon as it received video of the incident on Nov. 12. Toronto police say they were not made aware of the alleged sexual assaults until Wednesday through the media.

In a statement, the school said it is launching a “rigorous independent examination of the underlying attitudes and behaviours” inconsistent with the school’s culture and values.

“Recent incidents at our school are offensive to everything we strive to teach the young men of St. Michael’s,” says Greg Reeves, Principal, St. Michael’s College
School. “The victims of these horrendous acts are being supported and cared for.”

Toronto police confirm they are investigating a total of four incidents, involving four different victims. They believe the alleged incidents happened during this school term.

Investigator say they believe there may be more victims and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

They are also asking anyone in possession of the videos to delete them.