Three coaches from Saint-Laurent high school were arrested by Montreal police on Wednesday in connection with sexual assaults allegedly committed on at least “two underage victims” who attended the establishment.
Posted at 3:05 p.m.
Updated at 3:41 p.m.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) confirms that its Sexual Assault Section intervened in the morning, around 10 a.m., in connection with this case.
The Press was able to confirm that the establishment concerned is the Saint-Laurent secondary school, located in the borough of the same name, in the west of Montreal. An operation was still in progress there in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday.
“We arrested three coaches of a sports team,” said agent Véronique Comtois, spokesperson for the police force, specifying that the case is linked to sexual assaults which would have been committed. “on two minor victims who would have attended the institution in the period from 2008 to 2014”. The victims reportedly came forward directly to the police.
Of the three coaches arrested, two are 43-year-old men and another is 31, authorities also confirmed.
The three suspects, who are basketball coaches according to our information, should appear Thursday morning before a judge at the Montreal courthouse. However, they must first be met by investigators during the day on Wednesday. It is following their appearances that more information will be made public.
Several SPVM socio-community officers were dispatched to the school premises on the sidelines of the police operation, in order to provide psychosocial support to students and staff.
The director general of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school service center reacted on Wednesday in a press release.
“We have just been informed that members of the staff of the Saint-Laurent school were arrested this afternoon. We take the situation very seriously. We will remain in contact with the Service de police de Montréal (SPVM) and will put in place all the recommendations and directives that may be made to us,” said Dominic Bertrand.
With Marie-Eve Morasse, The Press