Three Boys Sexually Assault Two Others, Ages 6 And 8: Police

BATTLE CREEK, MI — Police in Battle Creek say three boys, ages 11, 12 and 13, sexually assaulted two younger boys and that a subsequent garage fire may be related to the attack.

On Tuesday, police said a garage fire was reported June 12 and that three boys might have been involved. Early indications suggest that they had dropped a marijuana cigarette on a mattress in the garage and flames erupted. The kids poured a liquid on it that turned out to be gasoline, police said. The garage sustained "significant damage," as a result.

After the fire, the 6- and 8-year-olds told their mother about the sexual assaults when she saw them behaving differently, police said. Todd Elliott, a detective sergeant with the police department, told Patch it appears there were multiple sexual assault reports, though he couldn't disclose the nature or number of times it was reported.

Police are looking into an allegation that at least one incident was at the victims' home and the victims were locked inside a closet with one of the attackers. Elliott said initial information they received indicated the victims were held down by their arms and legs in the garage and assaulted. Police are still trying to verify that allegation as well.

Police learned that information the same day of the fire.

The three boys involved in the fire were arrested and taken to the Calhoun County Juvenile Home on criminal sexual conduct charges, police said.

Further details about the assault and investigation are not being released at this time due to the nature of the investigation and ages of the victims and suspects, police said.

The cause of the blaze — including whether it was deliberately set — remains under investigation.

The Battle Creek Enquirer reported that the fire happened on the 40 block of North Wabash Avenue and that police now believe it was set to cover up the assaults.

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