Police host town hall in Quadeville after attack on girl

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Nearly 100 people filled a community centre in Quadeville, Ont., Saturday to question police about a disturbing attack on a young girl that investigators believed was caused by an animal — until they arrested a teenager in the case.

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Residents of the rural community wanted to know why Ontario Provincial Police had sent out an alert about a suspected animal attack and told them to keep their small children indoors, before announcing days later that a 17-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder and sexual assault of the eight-year-old girl.

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OPP hosted the town hall in Quadeville, about 170 kilometres west of Ottawa, in an effort to clear up some of the confusion and address residents’ fears, but did not divulge any new information about the case that is now before the courts.

“It’s a very traumatic time for this community because everyone knows everyone involved,” OPP Insp. Derek Needham said at the meeting punctuated by some tense moments.

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When police opened the floor for questions, a man who identified himself as a relative of the victim asked why it took such a long time for police to respond when the girl was initially reported missing on June 23.

Police replied that it took time to bring officers to the scene to search the area.

“I could’ve done my own investigation,” said the man, adding that he lives three hours away.

The OPP have said that the child was found with life-threatening injuries shortly after midnight on June 24, a few hours after they began their search.

The girl remains in hospital.

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