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Sex assault against young boy 'unfounded' - RCMP

Jessica Gray and Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 30/06) - Police admit to acting hastily after finding out there is no truth to a sexual assault involving a six-year-old boy.

Yellowknife RCMP sent out a press release last Friday, reporting that a young boy was sexually assaulted in the men's washroom of the Yellowknife Public Library, two weeks ago.

NNSL Photo/graphic

The Yellowknife Public Library put up signs on their washroom doors Aug. 25, after hearing that a six-year-old boy was sexually assaulted in one of the men's room stalls. The have since RCMP issued a press release, saying the story is unfounded. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

"In hindsight, maybe we should have waited for more information," said RCMP Const. Colleen Werrell.

She said now that the investigation is over, it appears the report was unfounded and the report was sent out "without a chance to speak to the (child) or do full interviews."

Werrell said police don't believe there ever was an assailant in the washroom on Aug. 12, the day the assault was supposed to have taken place.

Werrell said she could not release any information on why the boy told his mother - the person who reported the incident to police - that he was assaulted and refused to say how they came to that determination.

"I can't discuss any details on the file. The mother reported it two weeks later. Our investigation found that it was unfounded," she said.

The RCMP conducted its investigation by speaking to people who were in the library at the time, she said.

"The library was never at fault. Predators can be in any public washroom," Werrell said.

She said the RCMP news release issued Friday was sent just as a precaution.

"We're still requesting that parents accompany they're children in public places, especially in public washrooms where they may lose sight of them."

Shortly after the RCMP warning was issued, the library, located in Centre Square Mall, put up signs on washroom doors reminding parents not to let their children into the washroom unattended.