Tumwater police are investigating an alleged sex-offense case involving youth from Bellarmine Preparatory School.
KING 5 first reported based on police reports that four teenage boys from Bellarmine Preparatory School have been identified as suspects in the incident, which allegedly occurred at a Tumwater home off campus and not during school hours. The teens allegedly forced another 16-year-old boy to engage in a sex act during a sleepover, and Tacoma police gathered information from a Tacoma hospital Oct. 4 after the victim was transported there, KING 5 reported. Tacoma police then handed the investigation over to the Tumwater Police Department.
Tumwater Police Department Lt. Jen Kolb confirmed via text that Tumwater police are investigating but declined to provide comment because the investigation is still active and because it concerns an alleged sex offense involving youth.
Reporters submitted public records requests for police reports about the incident from the Tumwater and Tacoma police departments Thursday.
A Bellarmine Preparatory School spokesperson emailed the following statement to The News Tribune when asked for comment Thursday:
"Bellarmine has a very limited understanding of the event in question, and is not aware of details due to the pending investigation by authorities. Bellarmine learned of an off campus event involving students which apparently occurred some time ago. The event was not connected to, or sponsored by Bellarmine. Upon learning limited details, Bellarmine promptly contacted the proper authorities who are undertaking the investigation. Bellarmine still does not have full details of what took place and is awaiting the outcome of the official investigation."
Bellarmine is a private Catholic school in Tacoma that serves about 900 students, the school's website says.