Possible Student Assault Investigated

There is new information in a possible molestation at a Tulsa school. A Wright Elementary first grader who said a man touched her inappropriately in her school bathroom underwent a forensic interview

Thursday, November 8th 2007, 11:39 am

By: News On 6

There is new information in a possible molestation at a Tulsa school. A Wright Elementary first grader who said a man touched her inappropriately in her school bathroom underwent a forensic interview on Thursday. The girl is just 6-years-old. The alleged molestation happened Tuesday in a school bathroom, during the school day, but The News On 6â€™s Ashli Sims reports Tulsa Public Schools insists Wright is still a safe place.

The school day had just started at Wright Elementary School, located near 45th and Peoria, when police say something terrible happened. They say a 6-year-old little girl told them she was in the bathroom, when a man entered. She told them the man touched her inappropriately, she screamed and the man took off. Investigators say the first grader told a school administrator and that's how they got involved.

"The principal is required to notify the police, the counselor, and the parents, and that's exactly what happened in this case," TPS Spokesperson Tami Marler said.

TPS policy does not require the principal to notify all parents, and that has some people unnerved.

"It's up to the discretion of the principal. If the principal feels other children are somehow in jeopardy, then she would notify all of the parents to be on the lookout," said Tami Marler.

Marler says that's not the case in this situation. She says the suspect is not a Tulsa Public Schools employee or an intruder.

"Wright Elementary is always on lockdown. You can't get into Wright Elementary unless you buzz a buzzer, and they know exactly who's coming in the door," TPS Spokesperson, Tami Marler said.

Marler says the school is cooperating with police in their investigation, while trying to keep parents calm.

"They felt like they had a pretty good lead on what exactly happened yesterday, and to cause mass hysteria would jeopardize apprehending a suspect," Tami Marler said.

Wright's principal did send a letter home on Thursday. It says the school defers to police in these situations, and they were told "it would be a detriment to the investigation and the alleged victim to alert those who were not in danger." The letter goes on to say, "Had your child's safety been a concern, we would have notified you immediately."

Tulsa police say they're continuing in their investigation.

Watch the video: UPDATE: Molestation Investigation At Elementary School

Watch the video: WEB EXTRA: TPS Parent Notification Policy Explained

Related story:

11/7/2007 Molestation Reported At School