A suspect has been identified in the reported sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl who told police she was sexually assaulted by a man Wednesday in a Perry Hall Middle School restroom.

Meanwhile, Baltimore County Public Schools officials remained quiet about the case.

Baltimore County police spokesman Cpl. Mike Hill said police are not releasing the suspect’s name because no charges had been filed.

Hill said, however, that the man is an employee for one of several construction companies working at the school this week.

This story continues below
Advertisement

“We are continuing to investigate the allegation and will talk to the girl again tomorrow,” Hill told The Examiner on Thursday. Otherwise, “this was a very isolated incident that has not put the community in danger.”

How the suspect entered the building remains unclear, but Hill said because he is a construction worker, he was allowed access to the building.

A reporter who visited the school Thursday gained easy access through the unlocked main entrance. Upon reaching the administrative office, however, she was met by a uniformed police officer who said no media were allowed on the premises.

After classes ended, many female students were seen walking in clusters.

“They told us to use the buddy system,” a girl in the sixth grade said. “While we were in school, though, we felt pretty secure because there were a lot of police officers.”

Parents weren’t notified of the assault until around 8 p.m. Wednesday when the school system sent them automated phone calls. Police had said they were summoned to the school at about 2:34 p.m. because of a reported assault.

Lisa Myers, 45, of Kingsville, said she received the school’s call, but she wasn’t overly concerned.

“Of course I’m concerned that the incident happened here at the school,” Myers said as she waited for her son.

“But I wasn’t worried about sending him to school today.”

Myers said she thought school officials might have been more proactive.

“They could have discussed background checks for people like those who work in construction at schools,” Myers said.

Meanwhile, BCPS watchdog Bashar Pharoan said he had warned school officials in 2006 that security might be lax.

Pharoan said the superintendent told him one or two police officers are routinely present at schools.

“I wanted the Board of Education to assess security, and it was not taken seriously,” Pharoan said. “They basically brushed me away. The incident that has happened shows just how vulnerable our students are to someone who wants to come in and commit a crime.”

Schools spokesman Charles Herndon was asked for comment Thursday morning but did not respond by press time.

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com