Longueuil police investigate possible sexual assault of child ‘in a school environment’

Longueuil police are investigating a “possible sexual assault in a school environment”.

The incident is believed to have occurred at an elementary school in the Centre de services scolaires Marie-Victorin.

The police indicated Monday morning that “the adult who allegedly is at the origin of the event has been removed from the school environment until further notice”. However, no charges have yet been laid.

“The child and their parents are in contact with the SPAL, but also with various psychosocial intervention workers to assist them in the circumstances,” said Officer François Boucher, spokesperson for the Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL)

Police confirmed that the parents contacted them after taking their child to Charles-Lemoyne Hospital last Wednesday to be treated for injuries believed to be caused by the assault.

In order to protect the alleged victim, no details concerning the person’s identity were provided by the Longueuil police force.

In a statement on its website the Centre de services scolaires Marie-Victorin said it wanted to reassure its community that the school service center has been cooperating fully with the investigation since the very beginning of this case, and that the person who was the subject of the allegations was removed the same day from all establishments under the management of the CSS Marie-Victorin.

“We apply a zero-tolerance policy to any situation of sexual violence, whatever its form. Every reported situation is rigorously followed up in accordance with the anti-bullying and anti-violence plan of the facility concerned, and reported without delay to the appropriate authorities, such as the Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL) or the Directeur de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ). Throughout this process, our primary concern is to support the alleged victim and their family, and to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our students,” Gaëlle Absolonne, the director general of the CSS Marie-Victorin said in the statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 11, 2023.