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Teacher Arrested, Police Chief Concerned There Could Be More Victims

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Aurora police say they have arrested a teacher from the Cherry Creek School District and are concerned that there are more victims that have not come forward yet.

Brian Vasquez
Brian Vasquez (credit: Aurora Police)

Brian Vasquez, 33, teaches Social Studies for 7th and 8th graders at Prairie Middle School. He is charged with three counts of sexual assault and five counts of sexual exploitation of a child. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.

"This is a high priority for both the Aurora Police Department and the Cherry Creek School District. I'm as shocked as all of you are. None of us had any inklings of anything," said Cherry Creek School District Superintendent Dr. Harry Bull Jr.

brian vasquez
Brian Vasquez (credit: Prairie Middle School)

Vasquez has been at Prairie Middle School for seven years. Investigators wouldn't specify how many victims have already come forward or when the alleged assaults and exploitations occurred, but they did say the victims are students.

"We are very concerned with the possibility of additional victims," said Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz.

Brian Vasquez
Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz holds up a photo of Brian Vasquez. (credit: CBS)

Vasquez also worked in the Colorado Springs area at Widefield School District 3 and Harrison School District Two. He's also worked at a young correction facility in the San Luis Valley.

Metz said he fears there are other victims who haven't come forward so far and he wants to get the word out of the arrest statewide.

prairie middle school (1)
Copter4 flew over Prairie Middle School on Tuesday (credit: CBS)

"We are in the process of contacting not only the Colorado Springs Police Department but also the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and others we believe may need to know this information," Metz said. "We want to make sure if there are past victims out there that they're getting the assistance they need."

Prairie View Middle School
(credit: CBS)

The school district sent a notice to parents Tuesday night. Extra school resource officers and detectives will be at Prairie Middle School on Wednesday, prepared for more kids to come forward. Aurora police are also taking tips to the Crimes Against Children Unit at (303) 739-6164.

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