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Teacher accused of sex assault goes to trial in February
Fundraising
Staff Writer
Miranda GATHERCOLE/Langley Times
Members of the H2 Langley Blades: Braydn Vinnell, Evan Bolli, Jayden Hirsch, Kian Emery, Nathan Blaker, Ryder Birtch and Jordan Gavin, patrolled the Langley Events Centre, selling 50/50 tickets during Sunday’s Langley Rivermen game.
A Langley elementary teacher accused of sexually assaulting one of her students will go to trial on Feb. 19. Deborah Ralph, 58, is accused of molesting a male student between December 1998 and June 2001. The alleged victim contacted Langley RCMP on Nov. 8, 2011 to report he had been sexually assaulted by Ralph while studying at the James Kennedy Elementary School. He once was her student, but alleges he was assaulted when she was no longer his teacher. Ralph taught at the school from September 1987 to June 2010. Ralph was suspended with pay. Ralph is charged with one count of sexual assault and one of sexual interference of a person under the age of 14. Her trial is in B.C. Provincial Court in Surrey. The teacher is being defended by Janet Winteringham, a high-profile Vancouver lawyer who was on the prosecution team which obtained guilty pleas from two BC Liberal government aides charged with corruption in connection with the $1-billion sale of B.C. Rail.
Cops thank citizens for assisting arrest Extensive foot chase ends as passersby help officer to subdue and cuff 16-year-old suspect in downtown Langley Monique TaMMinga Times Reporter
A Langley RCMP officer wants to offer a “heartfelt thank you” to several Good Samaritans who helped him detain an unco-operative teenager fighting off an arrest on Saturday. “The officer really wanted to offer a sincere thank you to these citizens, but they were gone before he could,” said Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks. A 16-year-old Surrey boy was arrested after a foot chase through downtown
Langley and a scuffle on the sidewalk where the two community-minded citizens helped the officer complete the arrest, said Marks. The young suspect was first spotted near the Greyhound bus depot at around 3 p.m. The officer knew the suspect had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and when he turned around to approach the suspect, the chase was on. The young man ran through the Logan bus loop and even temporarily took refuge in a bus waiting to leave. Another officer recognized him on the
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bus, forcing the young man to resume his flight across the Value Village parking lot, through Salt Lane and onto Fraser Highway. At this point the officer tackled the runner and a fight ensued, with the suspect trying to break free. Several civilians came to the aide of the officer. At least two of them helped to control the suspect’s hands so the officer was able to get the handcuffs secured. Back-up arrived and took custody of the suspect. “Throughout my 25 years of policing, I
find the public is always willing to come to the assistance of the police when asked and in this case, even when not asked,” said Langley RCMP Insp. Amrik Virk. “On behalf of Langley Detachment, myself and the arresting officer, I would like to publicly thank them for their help in dealing with this aggressive, fighting suspect. “We are very happy to have him off the street.” Police are considering charges against the young man.
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