ARTHUR – A Kitchener man has been charged with indecent exposure following an interaction with an Arthur Public School student on Thursday, but school and police officials are offering few details about the incident.
Wellington County OPP spokesperson Josh Cunningham stated that at around 8:50am on Oct. 13 “a 12-year-old student, walking along Conestoga Street North, had been engaged and spoken to by a person parked in a white sedan along the roadway.”
It’s not clear what was said during the interaction and police say the man was not known to the student.
Arthur Public School sent a letter to parents and guardians about the incident at 1:45pm on Oct. 13.
The letter was then shared anonymously over social media.
Arthur PS principal Marni Barrow confirmed to the Advertiser the authenticity of the letter, which stated the student, who was approached “in the area of” Conestoga and Walton Streets, reported the interaction and the school “immediately called the police.”
Barrow commended the student for “leaving the situation and telling a trusted adult.”
Chrispin Sam, 25, of Kitchener, was charged with indecent exposure to a person under 16 years of age, the OPP announced in a follow-up press release issued at 7pm on Oct. 14.
He is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
Details lacking
Contacted by the Advertiser on Thursday with questions seeking to clarify what had happened, Barrow responded Friday morning suggesting the newspaper contact police for more details.
But Wellington OPP media officers did not respond to the Advertiser’s request for information by publishing time on Saturday.
Barrow told the Advertiser the school “will communicate with parents and guardians about any incidents that they should be aware of, such as this situation.”
Barrow stated educators engage students in discussions about personal safety and well-being, and added that “the safety and well-being of our students is our primary concern and we are committed to working with families and [the] community for this purpose.”
*With files from Chris Daponte
