Police say a code of silence has led to their pressing just one charge of sexual assault in an incident investigators maintain was a case of gang rape.
The Mounties announced Thursday that they have arrested two more men in connection with the alleged attack on a 16-year-old girl at a rave in Pitt Meadows, east of Vancouver on Sept. 10.
Colton Ashton McMorris, 18, is charged with sexual assault and 19-year-old Dennis John Allen Warrington is charged with making and distributing child pornography.
Last fall, a 16-year-old male was charged with production and distribution of child pornography in the case.
Police have always maintained that multiple suspects took part in the incident, during which police say the girl was attacked and photographed in cell phone images that were later posted to social media websites including Facebook.
But RCMP Sgt. Peter Thiessen says "a code of silence" is preventing investigators from gathering enough evidence to charge anyone else.
"At this point we still believe there was more than one male involved in this sexual assault," Thiessen told CTV's Canada AM on Friday. "We believe that because of the statements and information we have from a variety of sources. However, bringing that to trial and getting approved charges is a whole other matter."
Thiessen added that, "some have assisted, but we know many have not for one reason or another."
From his perspective, CTV legal analyst Steven Skurka says he's surprised there has only been one charge of sexual assault in three months of investigation. But, he added, he'd be even more astonished if police encountered anything other than silence from anyone who may have had a part in the alleged attack.
"We're talking about people who are suspected of crime. Their lawyers are going to tell them not to say anything, and that's to be expected. They're exercising their constitutional right," Skurka said on Canada AM.
"If I was there, I'd be telling my client to do the same."
On the chance of a surprise confession or other unexpected development, Thiessen said police still hope to gather enough evidence to press more charges.
"At this point we're not saying there will be, but we're certainly hopeful that people, young adults, teenagers, parents will do the right thing and provide us with the information we need to bring others before the courts."
In the days following the rave at the centre of the case, police sorted through lurid reports that the girl had been drugged.
However, police said Thursday that toxicology tests showed no sign of drugs or alcohol. Still, Thiessen noted that the tests were carried out more than 20 hours after the incident.
