Palo Alto police arrest middle school teacher for 2001 sexual assault of student

PALO ALTO — Law enforcement in Palo Alto on Wednesday arrested a bodily schooling instructor on charges he sexually assaulting a sixth-quality woman university student in 2001, authorities claimed.

According to a release issued by the Palo Alto Police Department, in late January 2022, Palo Alto Unified Faculty District administrators contacted police about an e-mail reporting that a existing bodily instruction instructor at Greene Middle University experienced sexually assaulted an 11-calendar year-aged feminine college student in 2001.  

Collaborating with district officials, Palo Alto police detectives introduced an investigation. The instructor was quickly positioned on administrative leave by district directors.

The investigation discovered that the target, now in her thirties, had been sexually assaulted by her physical education trainer in the locker area at the former Jordan Middle Faculty — afterwards renamed Greene Center University — at 750 North California Avenue throughout the 2001-2002 faculty 12 months though she was in sixth quality. Law enforcement explained the assault transpired throughout the lunch hour.

After receiving the detectives’ accomplished investigation, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Place of work filed one particular felony cost of aggravated sexual assault of a little one versus the suspect on June 13.  A Santa Clara County Superior Court docket judge signed a warrant for his arrest the pursuing day.

Wednesday afternoon, the suspect self-surrendered at the Palo Alto Law enforcement Office without having incident.  Police booked the suspect, identified as 55-12 months-outdated Redwood City resident Peter Michael Colombo, into the Santa Clara County Key Jail.  

While Palo Alto police stated they are not mindful of any supplemental victims at this time, detectives are encouraging anybody who might have been victimized or who has information relating to the situation or suspect to contact the division. Folks can simply call the department’s 24-hour dispatch centre at (650) 329-2413.  Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to [email protected] or sent via textual content message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.