LAC LA BICHE - Four months after receiving the complaint, Lac La Biche RCMP say their investigation has resulted in a charge of assault against a local man.
On Oct. 19, 2022, Lac La Biche RCMP received a report that a youth had suffered minor injuries after being allegedly assaulted by a teacher at a local school. In a news release issued on Feb. 15, police say a single count of assault was filed against a 59-year-old Lac La Biche man on Dec. 29, 2022.
Lawyers for Michael Lorne McArthur, 59, were in court on Feb. 13, but the matter was adjourned to March 13.
McArthur was contacted by the Lac La Biche POST newsroom on Wednesday after police issued the news release. The local school teacher opted not to comment on the charge, saying only that court evidence will highlight the facts.
McArthur resigned from teaching at the Light of Christ Catholic School in Lac La Biche earlier this year.
School statement
On Wednesday, Lakeland Catholic School Division officials released a statement.
"An individual formerly employed by Lakeland Catholic Schools has been charged by the RCMP in relation to an alleged incident at a Lac La Biche school. The division would like to confirm that upon learning of the alleged incident, the individual was immediately removed from the school. The individual is no longer employed with the division. Lakeland Catholic is committed to the safety of our students."
When asked for further clarification on timelines associated with information in the release, the school division's Communications Officer Meagan MacEachern told Lakeland This Week that no further details would be added to the statement at this time.
Lakeland Catholic School Division has a student population of about 2,600 students in eight schools across the Lakeland region.
*This story was updated on Feb. 16 at 10:15 a.m.
