Sex offender accused in St. Vital school washroom incident twice breached court order at nearby high school: police

A convicted sex offender who allegedly grabbed a young girl at a St. Vital elementary school two weeks ago is now facing new charges after police say he showed up twice at a nearby high school in violation of court orders.

Police say they rearrested 28-year-old Scott William George at the Winnipeg Remand Centre Tuesday after learning he entered Dakota Collegiate on two occasions, the Free Press has confirmed — first after hours on Nov. 20, when he allegedly stole a laptop from an empty classroom, and again during school hours on Nov. 27.

Later on Nov. 27, George is accused of entering nearby Darwin School, hiding in a bathroom stall and grabbing a young girl, who managed to fight him off and escape. He was arrested shortly afterward at St. Vital mall.

George went undetected during the Nov. 20 incident, with police saying school staff discovered what happened only after reviewing surveillance footage. Both school incidents were reported to police on Dec. 1.

George had previously been arrested at Dakota in March after being found wandering the hallways. Court records show he was under an order prohibiting contact with children or being in places they frequent when he breached those conditions that month.

In an email to families last week, Louis Riel School Division superintendent Christian Michalik confirmed George had been at Dakota on the morning of Nov. 27.

“We have uncovered that the individual arrested in connection with the Darwin School incident was escorted out of Dakota Collegiate earlier that same morning,” Michalik wrote.

Michalik said staff did not recognize George at the time.

“The individual did not present an immediate safety concern, so staff followed standard protocol by removing him from the premises,” Michalik told the Free Press in an email last week. “There was no indication (on Nov. 27) that he was subject to conditions or posed a heightened risk.”

Revelations that the accused had been inside another school earlier that day left many parents frustrated.

Last week, the province announced more than $500,000 for the Manitoba School Boards Association to review and strengthen safety protocols in school divisions, including the expansion of controlled access to buildings.

In a prior email to Darwin School families, Michalik said the division has been providing supports such as clinicians for students, staff and families.

A video intercom system is being installed this week, visitor protocols are being tightened and staff are receiving additional emergency procedures and situational-awareness training.

Michalik said Wednesday that the division has taken steps to control access at all of its schools.

George is facing two additional counts of failing to comply with a prohibition order regarding children, and a charge of theft under $5,000. He remains in custody.

— With files from Erik Pindera

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca