Cops: School too slow in reporting rape

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - School officials say they didn't tell police that a Muncie Central High School student had reported she was raped because they wanted to investigate her story themselves.

Delaware County deputy prosecutor Eric Hoffman told The Star Press that he was "uncomfortable" with school officials conducting criminal investigations.

The newspaper said administrators asked the 16-year-old girl to write a report when she went to the principal's office about noon Tuesday and said she had just been raped in a restroom.

Police didn't become involved until about four hours later when a worker from a troubled children's center took her to a hospital to be examined.

Muncie Community Schools Superintendent Eric King says the rape allegation was "vague" and administrators wanted to investigate on their own before filing a police report.