B.C. teacher assaulted after man entered school through unsecured door, RCMP say

The floor of a school gymnasium is seen in this stock image. (Credit: Shutterstock)

Police in southeastern British Columbia are investigating after a 36-year-old man with special needs reportedly entered an elementary school and assaulted a teacher.

Mounties say the incident happened Wednesday in Trail, after police first received a report that the man was missing from the neighbouring community of Warfield.

According to a police statement, the man had been riding in a vehicle with his support worker when he jumped out of the car and fled just before noon.

The support worker reported the incident to police, who later confirmed the man had been located and returned to his care home.

A short time later, however, the Trail RCMP received another call, this time saying the same man had entered a local elementary school through a door that was left unsecured by a construction worker.

A teacher located the man inside the school gym, police said.

“When approached by the teacher, the man grabbed the teacher’s hair and pulled it,” Sgt. Mike Wicentowich, spokesperson for the Trail RCMP, said in the statement, adding the teacher was able to free herself from the man with the help of another educator.

“The teacher may have suffered minor injuries from the assault,” Wicentowich added. “Trail RCMP is now conducting a full investigation.”

The man was returned to his support worker, and RCMP victim services have been engaged to support anyone affected by the incident.

“There are safety issues to consider that arose from this matter,” the police spokesperson said. “The investigating officer is speaking with all involved parties to develop a joint safety plan and discuss best practices to avoid a future incident.”