Bainbridge Island Police were notified of an alleged sex offense last week at Bainbridge High School that involved a minor, but Police Chief Matthew Hamner would not say late Tuesday if the report is connected in any way to the ongoing investigation of a BHS teacher who has been accused of “inappropriate conduct” with a student.
According to the weekly crime log prepared by the Bainbridge Island Police Department, the department received a report of a sex offense at the address of Bainbridge High that was labeled as “sexual misconduct” with a minor.
Hamner would not say whether the reported incident was part of the department’s investigation into the allegations that arose last week that involved improper behavior between a teacher and a student.
“It would be irresponsible for me to comment on that,” Hamner said.
Bainbridge High officials announced on Feb. 25 that a teacher had been placed on administrative leave following allegations that had been received late the day before that centered on “inappropriate conduct between a BHS teacher and student.”
BHS and district officials said last week they had referred the allegations to Bainbridge police.
District officials and Bainbridge police have declined since last week to offer any additional insight into the allegations.
Hamner said early Tuesday that he expects the investigation will last at least another week.
Also on Tuesday, March 2, the police department sent out its crime log for Feb. 22 through Feb. 28. The crime log is a weekly list prepared by police department staff for the news media, and includes a list of all calls received by the department. It includes a case number for each incident, how the incident was reported — such as a “burglary” or “domestic violence” — as well as the type of offense, when it was reported, when it occurred, and the location.
According to this week’s crime log, police received a report of a sex offense on Feb. 25 at the address of Bainbridge High.
The offense reported was described in the log as occurring Feb. 25, and was described as “sexual misconduct with minor – arrest charge.”
Hamner said late Tuesday that he would not talk about whether the incident in the crime log was relevant to the ongoing investigation, or even if the wording of the crime log was accurate.
“I’m not confirming or denying that report,” Hamner said.
“I can’t confirm or deny that. It could hamper the investigation,” he said.
Hamner also said he couldn’t say how the offense was labeled — as reported to police — was accurate.
“I’m not saying that this report is about the high school incident,” Hamner said. “Or that the title of the report is accurate. What I am telling you is that many times reports are changed based on what we find out later.”
