TORONTO — Police said Saturday that a 27-year-old man has been arrested in relation to multiple sexual assaults at a church in the Toronto area.
Toronto police said on Twitter that the man was arrested Friday night on a string of allegations dating back to 2013.
We’ve arrested a 27-year-old man in relation to multiple sexual assaults at St. Peter Congregational Church, #BrightonToronto. pic.twitter.com/oDo6hoCF2O — Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) September 29, 2018
The alleged assaults were described as “occurring of a sexual nature.”
Police say they received reports of sexual assaults at the church in January and April of this year, but didn’t release details about those incidents.
The church said in a statement that officials were notified by police about “off-site allegations.”
“We have taken several steps over the past several months to enhance our internal protocols and strengthen protocols to safeguard our congregation and the members of our community,” the statement said.
It added that it has “a zero tolerance policy for any member of our clergy who is found to have engaged in actions that are contrary to our guiding principles.”
“We are praying for all affected by these events and deeply regret that this investigation has caused further distress for anyone,” the statement said.
Toronto police said the man was expected to appear in court Saturday.