Edmonton police have charged a teacher at St. Basil Catholic School, after investigators uncovered an alleged sexual relationship between a teenaged girl, and a teacher.
Police said it was reported Friday, March 8 that a 15-year-old girl was having a sexual relationship with a 27-year-old teacher at St. Basil Catholic School.
As a result, the EPS Child Protection Section has arrested and charged 27-year-old Piotr Zaloba with sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and three counts of luring a child.
Police are still investigating the case.
An Edmonton Catholic Schools spokesperson told CTV News the Language Arts teacher had been suspended with pay, pending the outcome of court proceedings - he's relatively new to the Catholic school district.
“Once we received information from the Edmonton Police Service, the teacher was suspended,” Edmonton Catholic Schools superintendent Joan Carr said in a press conference Monday. “We have launched our own internal investigation to determine how this possibly could have taken place.”
Carr said officials with the school district were working with students and their families to deal with the incident and its aftermath.
Other teachers at St. Basil School were informed of the charges and Zaloba’s suspension in a meeting Sunday evening, and students were notified Monday morning.
The school district is planning to send a letter home with students on the matter Monday evening.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have been victimized, or who has more information on the case to contact the Edmonton Police Service non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or #377 on a mobile phone.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Zaloba is not in custody; his next court appearance has been scheduled for April 15.
