Derry PD: 'No crimes were committed' after Pinkerton Academy allegations

DERRY, N.H. — Police in Derry, N.H. determined that no crimes were committed after investigating allegations of sexual assault made against a Pinkerton Academy student. The announcement comes one day after the headmaster of the school said he was made aware of those claims.

Dr. Timothy Powers said he reported the allegations to the New Hampshire Department of Children and Youth Services and the Derry Police Department.

Derry PD investigated the claims, which circulated on Snapchat, that alleged one male student sexually assaulted 12 female students. The allegations also claimed that when the assaults were reported to the school staff that no action was taken.

Pinkerton Academy staff denied that such reporting had occurred, while police say that it appears no crimes were committed as alleged.

"Derry Police conducted dozens of interviews of students who shared the Snapchat post or protested at the school on September 13 about the allegations," the department said in a release. "This investigation yielded no names of any possible victims or suspects and no details of any crimes.

"At this time, it appears no crimes were committed as alleged in the Snapchat posting."

Dr. Powers said the school has also hired an independent investigator to help conduct an internal review of the matters.

"These allegations are deeply disturbing, and they do not reflect our school community's shared values or our expectations around what constitutes appropriate and acceptable behavior," Powers wrote in a letter to the school community. "We take allegations such as these extremely seriously, and we will not tolerate behavior that threatens the safety, health, and wellbeing of any member of our school community."

Powers said he'd also been made aware some students planned to take part in a walkout or other form of protest on Friday in connection with the allegations.

"We support and encourage all students to use their voices in a peaceful and constructive manner, and we will not discourage or disallow demonstrations or expressions of any kind provided that these events do not interrupt or interfere with our day to day operations," Powers added.

Pinkerton Academy is the largest independent high school in the United States. Approximately 3,300 students attend the school.

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