El Cerrito police: Girl complained to school officials that 14-year-old rape suspect sexually harassed her
By Malaika Fraley and Karl Fischer
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 12/17/2009 03:50:50 PM PST
Updated: 12/17/2009 10:53:05 PM PST
El Cerrito police say the 12-year-old girl who was raped at Portola Middle School last week previously complained to school officials that the 14-year-old boy charged in the case had sexually harassed her.
"We are investigating this new information," El Cerrito police Cmdr. Mike Regan said Thursday.
The girl complained in the recent past, Regan said, though he was not more specific.
The boy, a Richmond resident, appeared before a juvenile court judge Thursday for arraignment on rape and false imprisonment charges; he did not enter a plea. He has been referred to the Contra Costa County Public Defender's Office for counsel, a prosecutor said.
El Cerrito detectives say the boy cornered and assaulted the girl in a stairwell on campus Dec. 10. At least two students witnessed the attack while passing by, police say; one found an adult, while another physically interceded.
West Contra Costa Unified School District officials placed Portola Principal Denise Van Hook and Vice Principal Matthew Burnham on paid administrative leave this week while it conducts an internal investigation.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family. We're still conducting our investigation," district spokesman Marin Trujillo said Thursday. He would not comment further, nor could he say when the investigation will be complete.
Both students attended school Dec. 10, but why each was out of class at the time remains under investigation, police said.
On Monday, Superintendent Bruce Harter attended an emergency staff meeting at Portola, where teachers were told that all students had to be escorted when out of class for bathroom breaks or similar reasons.
Portola is being run this week by former El Cerrito High School administrator Mike Aaronian and Brenda King Randle. Students will be on break for two weeks starting next week.
Van Hook notified parents by e-mail late Dec. 11 about what had happened: "Our investigation is ongoing. All of us at Portola are committed to making sure our school is a safe place for all our students," her note read in part.
An upswell of campus violence in the spring in El Cerrito prompted the district to sign a contract with the city Police Department to place an officer at Portola full time this school year, supplementing the campus' four site supervisors.
It already placed two police officers at El Cerrito High School, beyond its own in-house security.
The Portola deal came after a large group of students knocked down a teacher and threw rocks at her during a lunch period in May. Police arrested five students in connection with that attack.
Staff writer Shelly Meron contributed to this story. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728. Follow him at Twitter.com/kfischer510.
By Malaika Fraley and Karl Fischer
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 12/17/2009 03:50:50 PM PST
Updated: 12/17/2009 10:53:05 PM PST
El Cerrito police say the 12-year-old girl who was raped at Portola Middle School last week previously complained to school officials that the 14-year-old boy charged in the case had sexually harassed her.
"We are investigating this new information," El Cerrito police Cmdr. Mike Regan said Thursday.
The girl complained in the recent past, Regan said, though he was not more specific.
The boy, a Richmond resident, appeared before a juvenile court judge Thursday for arraignment on rape and false imprisonment charges; he did not enter a plea. He has been referred to the Contra Costa County Public Defender's Office for counsel, a prosecutor said.
El Cerrito detectives say the boy cornered and assaulted the girl in a stairwell on campus Dec. 10. At least two students witnessed the attack while passing by, police say; one found an adult, while another physically interceded.
West Contra Costa Unified School District officials placed Portola Principal Denise Van Hook and Vice Principal Matthew Burnham on paid administrative leave this week while it conducts an internal investigation.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family. We're still conducting our investigation," district spokesman Marin Trujillo said Thursday. He would not comment further, nor could he say when the investigation will be complete.
Both students attended school Dec. 10, but why each was out of class at the time remains under investigation, police said.
On Monday, Superintendent Bruce Harter attended an emergency staff meeting at Portola, where teachers were told that all students had to be escorted when out of class for bathroom breaks or similar reasons.
Portola is being run this week by former El Cerrito High School administrator Mike Aaronian and Brenda King Randle. Students will be on break for two weeks starting next week.
Van Hook notified parents by e-mail late Dec. 11 about what had happened: "Our investigation is ongoing. All of us at Portola are committed to making sure our school is a safe place for all our students," her note read in part.
An upswell of campus violence in the spring in El Cerrito prompted the district to sign a contract with the city Police Department to place an officer at Portola full time this school year, supplementing the campus' four site supervisors.
It already placed two police officers at El Cerrito High School, beyond its own in-house security.
The Portola deal came after a large group of students knocked down a teacher and threw rocks at her during a lunch period in May. Police arrested five students in connection with that attack.
Staff writer Shelly Meron contributed to this story. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728. Follow him at Twitter.com/kfischer510.
