Edmonton schoolgirl assaulted in school washroom
Updated Mon. Apr. 3 2006 11:19 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Edmonton's police chief stressed Monday that officers are "pulling out all the stops" to find the man who sexually assaulted a female Grade 2 student in an elementary school washroom.
"I want to stress to everyone, this is our highest priority case," Mike Boyd told reporters.
"There is nothing of more priority in this city at this time than this case, and we are pulling out all the stops."
The attack happened just as the girl stopped to use the washroom before Monday morning recess at Oliver School, located just west of Edmonton's downtown area, said Jeff Wuite, a police spokesperson.
"An unknown male approached her from one of the stalls in the girls' bathroom, dragged her into the stall and sexually assaulted her," he said.
The school, which houses students from kindergarten to Grade 9, was locked down for about two hours after the incident while police confirmed the suspect was no longer on the premises.
Jane Farrell, a spokeswoman for Edmonton public schools, said most doors are kept locked except for a few minutes before recess.
The only door that is regularly kept unlocked is the front entrance near the office.
Farrell said the students have been advised to go in pairs to the washrooms from now on.
Oliver School Principal Judy Wilkie has also asked the students to refrain from questioning the victim because her experience has obviously been traumatic.
The suspect has been described as being a 30-year-old black male, 5'9", wearing a red shirt and a baggy black jacket, with orange or yellow streaks in his hair.
"There's no indication anyone else has seen this fellow. Of course, the investigation is still relatively new. Interviews with any staff, students and anybody who might have possibly seen anything are ongoing," Wuite said.
The case bears a chilling resemblance to one in Toronto in 2002, when a seven-year-old girl was assaulted by a man hiding in the girls' washroom at her school.
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That is the one of the most disturbing things i've heard...Like, what a way to ruin a kid's life. And this happened in my city. Thats pretty scary