Police are searching for a suspect after the reported assault of a young girl in the washroom of a north-end Toronto school.
The assault took place Monday afternoon at Portage Trail Community Junior School near Weston Road and Sidney Belsey Crescent, just west of Jane Street.
Const. Wendy Drummond,of Toronto police,said a female student reported walking into a school washroom at about 2 p.m. and being grabbed by a man.
“He grabbed her, she fell. After a number of times trying to get up, she was able to run from the washroom to a nearby classroom in which she reported the incident to a teacher,” she said.
Police said the assailant fled in an unknown direction. The school area was searched but the man was not located.
“We’re currently going through video security in the school,” said Drummond. “We’re asking anybody that has any information, who potentially saw this person either enter or exit the school,to call police.”
The suspect is described as a tall, thin, white man, who is approximately 30 years old. He has a full beard and a thick moustache, police said. The man was last seen wearing a black touque, black sweater and black shoes with blue stitching. He was carrying a black satchel.
The victim’s age has not been released, but according to the school’s website, Portage Trail Community Junior School has classes for students in junior kindergarten through to Grade 5.
During a visit to the school on Wednesday, CTV Toronto discovered that the building’s front doors were locked. To obtain access, visitors must press a buzzer for either the junior or middle school.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 416-808-7474. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS(8477).
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Austin Delaney
