Police Investigating Sex Abuse Allegations at Anne Arundel Catholic School

By Alison Knezevich
Baltimore Sun
May 8, 2013

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-ar-school-investigation-20130508,0,6186989.story

Anne Arundel County police are investigating sexual abuse allegations by a former student at Monsignor Slade Catholic School in Glen Burnie, officials of the Archdiocese of Baltimore said Wednesday.

In a letter posted on the archdiocese website and sent to parents via email Wednesday, Barbara McGraw Edmondson, the superintendent of schools within the archdiocese, said county police searched the school Tuesday afternoon and that those being investigated have been suspended until "a determination is made concerning the veracity of the allegations."

Monsignor Slade Catholic School serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

"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," Edmondson wrote. "The police indicate that their investigation is ongoing and no charges related to the sexual abuse allegation have been filed at this time."

Anne Arundel police spokesman Lt. T.J. Smith confirmed the investigation, and said police received the allegations Tuesday.

"We responded to a report where there was an allegation made against some staff members in reference to inappropriate contact," Smith said. He said the department is working with the archdiocese and the county state's attorney's office.

Edmondson said that the school's assistant principal, Robert Ritz, was charged early Wednesday with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his home. Smith declined to say whether that incident had any connection to the abuse investigation.

Ritz could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

Contact: alisonk@baltsun.com

twitter.com/aliknez