Police Investigate Several Slade Employees Amid Sex Abuse Claims

By Brian Hooks
The Patch
May 8, 2013

http://glenburnie.patch.com/articles/police-investigate-several-slade-employees-amid-sex-abuse-claims

Anne Arundel County police are conducting a criminal investigation into claims of sexual abuse by a former student at Monsignor Slade Catholic School in Glen Burnie, according to letters from school officials and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

A member of the school's administration, Slade Assistant Principal Robert Ritz, was arrested on drug charges early Wednesday—however, there is nothing at this time to connect Ritz to any allegations of sexual abuse.

Slade Assistant Principal Alexa Cox wrote in a letter to parents that police spoke to members of the school's staff, and that some of those members will not return to the campus until police gather more information.

In the letter, Cox said the school does not believe any students are in danger. Here is the letter she sent to Slade parents:

I write concerning an incident that occurred at school today. Police officers were on campus this afternoon to speak with some members of our staff and conduct a criminal investigation. Though we have very little information, we wanted to make you aware of the presence of police at the school. The staff involved will not be on campus until we learn more information from the police. We have no reason to believe there is any kind of threat to our school or that there will be any disruption to our schedule. I look forward to greeting the students tomorrow morning. We will communicate further as soon as we get more information.

Dr. Barbara McGraw Edmondson, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, confirmed the investigation in a letter published Wednesday. Edmondson said the claims date back to alleged sexual abuse in the mid-2000s at Slade.

Edmondson encouraged anyone with information to contact police in her letter:

As indicated in the email sent to all school families and staff yesterday evening, Anne Arundel County Police officers were on the campus of Msgr. Slade School yesterday afternoon. The police conducted a search in connection with an allegation from a former student who alleges being the victim of sexual abuse at the school in the mid-2000s. The police indicate that their investigation is ongoing and no charges related to the sexual abuse allegation have been filed at this time. We appreciate that you may desire more information about this matter. Because the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s policy is to cooperate and not interfere with such investigations, Msgr. Slade School and the Archdiocese are in close communication with the authorities and will await further information from them before communicating further about this matter.

Anyone with information relating to this matter is encouraged to call Anne Arundel Police at 410-222-8610. The individuals who are the subject of the investigation have been suspended until a determination is made concerning the veracity of the allegations.

We also learned from Police today that early Wednesday police charged assistant principal, Mr. Robert Ritz, with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his home.