Sex case involves two 5-year-old boys

CONSTANTINE, Mich. (WOOD) - Constantine police are investigating an alleged sexual incident last month between two 5-year-old boys at an elementary school.

"Five-year-olds don't know that kind of behavior. They have to have learned it somewhere," Constantine Police Chief Jim Bedell told 24 Hour News 8.

The chief said the incident happened in a classroom at Eastside Elementary School and involved "mostly touching."

Chief Bedell would not provide further details but said the teacher is not a suspect and has been suspended with pay.

The mother of one of the children reported the incident to police on Nov. 26 after her child made comments to her.

The district received a report Nov. 27, Constantine Public Schools Superintendent Chuck Frisbie said, and parents were upset that the district didn't contact them that night. Police interviewed the parent who made the initial report and this parent's child. By the time the district ascertained something had happened, it was Nov. 29, Frisbie told 24 Hour News 8.

Frisbie said if he had contacted parents the day it happened, then it would have been a whole different story.

"Believe me, I understand. I get it. It's frustrating for parents. I wouldn't want to be sitting there either," said  Frisbie.

Frisbie said he thinks the school district has acted properly, but says, "When we're done with this, we're going to review the whole process, and if it we did anything improperly, we will address it. We will make changes."

Parents were upset that school officials interviewed kids without the parents' knowledge.

Frisbie said, as part of the police investigation, authorities asked the district to do a "general screening." If police ask, then it is legal to do so. If there are parents involved, then the whole interview process changes, Frisbie said. Also, the timeliness is important.

Frisbie said if they heard any red flags from any of the kids, then they called police. Authorities called the parents and interviewed the kid.

The district will have a meeting with parents at the conclusion of the police investigation.

"We'll say, 'Let's review this. What did you like? What did you not like?'" Frisbie said.

The chief said his department is interviewing all of the students, and believes some of them witnessed the incident. Chief Bedell said they are also interviewing the parents of the two boys.

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Frisbie sent a letter to parents regarding the incident --

December 4, 2012

Dear Parents,

Police are currently investigating incidents which may have occurred in a Kindergarten classroom at Eastside Elementary School. Classroom parents were notified of the investigation last Thursday. The students involved are not in the classroom pending the results of the investigation and at this time there is no reason to suspect other students at Eastside Elementary are involved. Pending the investigation and according to policy the teacher has been suspended with pay. There are no criminal concerns with the teacher. At this point it would be inappropriate for District personnel to comment on the situation until all the facts have been collected. Upon completion of the investigation the District will schedule a parent meeting to inform parents of what we can within our legal limits and hear any concerns regarding how the situation has been handled by the District.

Sincerely,

Chuck Frisbie
Superintendent
Constantine Public Schools