FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — A 13-year-old boy is facing abduction and attempted sexual battery charged after an alleged assault that happened at a middle school in Alexandria in Fairfax County, according to Fairfax County Police Department.
The attempted assault happened on Oct. 6 in a courtyard inside Carl Sandburg Middle School, police said.
An investigation revealed that the 13-year-old student told the victim to get him milk from the cafeteria. When the victim did not get the milk, the student told the victim to "get on their knees," police said. The victim refused to do so and the 13-year-old forced the victim down and began to take his pants off before an administrator intervened.
Detectives interviewed several witnesses and went through footage before issuing a search warrant and charging the 13-year-old boy with abduction and attempted sexual battery.
Fairfax County Police victim specialists from the department's Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division are assisting the victim’s family with resources.
A letter to parents from middle school Principal Darwin Barker said that the student has not been in the school since October:
"I want to make you aware of charges filed against a former student from Sandburg Middle School related to an alleged incident that occurred at the school in October. The student has not been at the school since that time. Because of the sensitive nature of this case, I will not be sharing any further details.
"The safety and security of our students is our greatest priority and we investigate any situation as soon as it is brought to our attention. Please reinforce with your student that anytime they feel unsafe or have concerns, they should reach out to a trusted adult for help.
"If your safety concern is an emergency, please call 911. FCPS Office of Safety and Security also has a safety tip line that you can access anonymously online, by text or by phone."
Police are urging students or juveniles who are a victim of a crime to call the non-emergency number, 703-691-2131, or 911 to report crimes. Or they can file a report with a school resource officer assigned at the school.
For more information, the Fairfax County Public Schools has a website to help with filing sexual harassment complaints online, click here.