A man is in jail after police say he went to a Phoenix elementary school and sexually assaulted a child.
Officers were called to Orangewood Elementary School on Wednesday after an unauthorized man made it onto school grounds.
The Phoenix Police Department says 25-year-old Abel Kai Gblah lured a grade-school-aged girl into a classroom, where he sexually assaulted her.
A statement from the Washington Elementary School District said the suspect gained access behind a student who was buzzed in through the main entrance. He was there for about 10 minutes and fled the scene before officers showed up. Police later located him.
"We understand how concerning situations like this can be," principal Emily Paterson wrote. "Please know that I am working closely with our staff and District Security to review our safety procedures and ensure we are doing everything possible to keep Orangewood a safe place for students and staff. Additionally, District Security will be on campus for the remainder of the week."
The suspect has been booked into jail on multiple charges, including sexual assault and kidnapping.
In a statement, police spokesperson Robert Scherer said:
"The Phoenix Police Department recognizes the impact this incident has on the child, the family, and the entire community. We are ensuring the child and the family have access to the full range of support services they may need during this difficult time."
-
At a time when many Arizona school districts are closing schools due to low enrollment, the Tempe Union High School District is seeing a slight uptick in students.
-
An administrator at Saguaro High School resigned this week after facing accusations that he inappropriately messaged a student at a Scottsdale middle school on social media.
-
The Scottsdale Unified School District will close and repurpose two schools due to declining enrollment. Community members and some governing board members say the decision-making process was flawed.
-
Democrats have been critical of Arizona’s universal school voucher program since then-Governor Doug Ducey signed it into law in 2022. But Attorney Gov. Kris Mayes says she may sue state schools Superintendent Tom Horne over one way he’s handling a portion of the ESA program.
-
El Capitan, a team that has made the Arizona 1A playoffs each of the last four years, had its season cut short because of a recent measles outbreak in Mohave County, one of the largest outbreaks in the country. Throughout the season, several players contracted the virus, ultimately forcing seven game cancellations, including El Capitan’s coveted matchup with their crosstown foes.