Former U of M prof arrested for sexual assault of a student, Winnipeg police say

Former University of Manitoba jazz professor, Steve Kirby, was arrested this spring for sexual assault.

Winnipeg police said the arrest came as a result of a complaint by a woman enrolled in the music program at the university.

Authorities released information about the arrest Tuesday, saying they did not do so earlier, to be certain that the charges had in fact been laid in court, and so as not to identify the victim who would have still been in university at the time.

“To say that a professor at the university was arrested would identify both him, before charges were laid in court, as well as the victim,” Const. Tammy Skrabek said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "To say that a professor at the university was arrested would identify both him, before charges were laid in court, as well as the victim," Const. Tammy Skrabek said.

Police said the woman, who was 19 when the alleged assaults began, reported inappropriate contact by her jazz professor took place on a number of occasions, between September 2014 and January 2017.

In June 2017, the Sex Crimes Unit was asked to investigate.

Police said following the investigation, Kirby, 62, was arrested for sexual assault on May 9, 2018.

He was released on a promise to appear and the case is still before the courts.

A spokesperson for the University of Manitoba told Global News Kirby left the university in June of 2017.

Kirby was hired later that fall by the Berklee College of Music, according to the Boston college.

“Upon learning that he had been accused of sexual misconduct at his prior institution, he was immediately placed on administrative leave. Following an inquiry by the college, Kirby was terminated from Berklee,” said the college in a statement.

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Police said they believe there could be other victims who have not yet come forward.

 “It is entirely possible that there is somebody else who may have had contact and who may not even have thought about it at the time, just brushed it off as an inappropriate contact and didn’t think too much of it,” Skrabek said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter:  "It is entirely possible that there is somebody else who may have had contact and who may not even have thought about it at the time, just brushed it off as an inappropriate contact and didn't think too much of it," Skrabek said.

Anyone with information relating to the investigation should contact investigators at 204-986-6245 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).