Six students of St. Michael’s College School have been released on bail after being charged with assault and sexual assault offences in a spiralling scandal over a series of incidents at the prestigious all-boys private school.

Five students turned themselves in to police and one was arrested on his way to school, Deputy Chief James Ramer and Insp. Domenic Sinopoli of the sex crimes unit told reporters at a Monday morning news conference at Toronto police headquarters.

The six boys have each been charged with assault, gang sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon, Sinopoli said.

Their charges are all in relation to a single incident that was captured on video and posted to social media depicting an alleged sexual assault of a teen boy.

The 22-second video, which has been viewed by the Star, shows the teen held down by a group of boys in a locker room while he is allegedly sexually assaulted with what appears to be a broomstick.

The boys are all younger teens, and cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The bail hearing and the identity of the complainant are also covered by a publication ban.

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As the graphic allegations were read out in a small Toronto courtroom Monday afternoon, some of the parents of the accused teens began crying. The teens appeared distraught and hunched forward in the prisoners’ box as Crown Erin McNamara described what allegedly occurred. Two shook their heads at certain points.

All six were released with the consent of the Crown with their parents as sureties. Two of the teens were released on $7,000 bail, with the other four on $5,000 bail. Their conditions of release include not contacting or being near the complainant, not going to St. Michael’s College School and only using social media with the “direct and constant supervision” of their sureties.

Police are also investigating at least three other incidents at the school, one an alleged sexual assault and two alleged assaults.

There are “a minimum of four victims,” Sinopoli said.

“We also know there are several videos being circulated,” said Sinopoli, adding police are concerned the videos may still be being shared online.

Six teens have been arrested and charged after an alleged sexual assault at St. Michael’s private school in Toronto. Police say anyone in possession of the video of the alleged incident should delete it immediately. (The Canadian Press)

Police have warned that anyone in possession of the alleged sex assault video should delete it immediately because it meets the definition of child pornography.

The news conference was briefly delayed after a bomb threat was called in to the school Monday morning, police said.

The Roman Catholic school expelled eight students and suspended another one in connection with at least two incidents that allegedly took place on campus and were captured on video.

Late last week, the alleged sex assault video and another video began circulating on social media sites.

The Star also viewed the second, 49-second video, shot in the boys’ washroom. It shows a young boy in his underwear — he appears not to be physically injured — placed in a large sink by other boys, who splash water on him and slap him.

At a late afternoon news conference at the school, principal Greg Reeves told reporters it’s clear St. Michael’s College School has “a serious problem.”

“As a school we have a responsibility to keep our students safe, but our collective best efforts, have failed,” he said.

Pressed by reporters, he said he didn’t call police about the video of the alleged sexual assault in the locker room, which he saw Monday evening.

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When police arrived at the school Wednesday he said he told them about it, but was always intending to call them.

Sinopoli said Reeves had called police Monday for advice related to a hazing incident, but there “was never really a complaint” until after police heard about the video from the media.

After days of questions about who knew what and when, the school released a detailed timeline of events late last week, confirming officials took a full day to report the locker room video to police.

Reeves told the Star in an interview Sunday evening that the delay was because he was busy with expulsion meetings related to the washroom video on Tuesday. The mother of the locker room victim was out of town and he set up a meeting with both parents for Wednesday.

“My whole focus was on the protection of this young man,” Reeves said.

At the police news conference, Sinopoli said the school should have immediately notified police about the alleged sex assault video.

Reeves said at the Monday news conference that when he saw the video he called the victim’s dad, and his mom was out of town. Neither had been informed by their son. The victim was his priority, Reeves said.

“I know I’m being criticized for that, but I’ve spoken with the victim’s parents, they are very pleased with the timeline, and I think that we’re helping the healing of that victim,” Reeves said.

Reeves said the school is co-operating with police. He said a confidential voice mail has been set up and a full-time social worker is being hired.

Last week, the school did its own internal investigations into both the locker room and bathroom videos, brought in crisis counsellors, and met with members of the junior football team and their parents.

“There’s no good news in this story whatsoever,” Mayor John Tory told reporters at city hall after news of the students’ charges.

“This is a school that has a great history, a great distinguished history in our city, but sometimes it can be the case that cultures within organizations like that — not confined to that school or schools in general — can fail to meet the accepted standard or fail to keep up even with changing attitudes.”

Tory said he couldn’t comment on the timing of when police were notified about the alleged incidents.

“The police should be called in instances where there is suspected criminal conduct as soon as possible,” he said, adding it was best left to others to examine what happened in this case.

Over the weekend, the elite all-boys school announced an independent third-party investigation into the school’s culture. The “SMCS Respect and Culture Review” will look at the traditions, rituals and social practices of students. Parents and alumni will also be consulted.

It will be led by a three-member independent committee of prominent citizens individuals who don’t have any connection to the school and a final report is expected by the summer. Recommendations will be implemented by the start of the 2019-20 school year.

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Correction — Nov. 21, 2018: This article has been edited to correct the spelling of Toronto police Insp. Domenic Sinopoli’s name.