Three arrested in school assault

A 19-year-old male was beaten and tasered by several students at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute on March 25, police report.

Toronto Police Service alleges a student was swarmed in the school’s hallway by a group of male students. As they kicked and punched him near the principal’s office, one of the attackers used a “stun gun” on the victim’s leg.

The principal and a police officer stationed in the school were able to stop the attack. The suspects allegedly fled the school after the attack. A short time later police arrested three men, seized a stun gun and a pair of brass knuckles in connection with the incident.

Details were slow to filter throughout the school, located near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East. Many students interviewed hadn’t heard of the attack or did not wish to discuss it.

A Garneau student identifying herself as Sinjana witnessed part of the incident.

“I was in the cafeteria and I see all these people running to the exit door, then all these police came. Someone got tased and I heard he got beat up by a bunch of guys from school. And they tossed the taser over a bridge and some other weapons,” she said.

A total of 13 charges were laid on the three men, including assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Two of the students were additionally charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and weapons dangerous.

Police refused to release the names of the suspects and said more arrests would follow.

Stuart Auty of the Canadian Safe Schools Network said that while such incidents are upsetting, its important to keep them in context.

“”We’re always trying to improve safety in our schools, but one incident doesn’t mean we have to re-write the whole play book,” he said.

“It’s hard to say right now what exactly happened because they investigation is still on going and we haven’t heard any new details as to why (the alleged attack occurred).”

About this article

By: Dan Silver and Jon Spratt
Posted: Mar 26 2010 8:08 am
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Filed under: News