Boys & Girls Club sued by parents after counselor arrest

GERMANTOWN (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia mother has filed a lawsuit against the Boys & Girls Club in Germantown.

It comes after a counselor, Percival Outland, was arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a 12-year-old boy.

Police say the incident took place during an organized outing at the Kimmel Center in May.

In the lawsuit, the child's mother says the Boys and Girls Club was negligent and should have screened employees better

The Germantown Boys and Girls Clubs sent Action News the following statement:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia take these allegations very seriously. The safety and protection of our children is our highest priority and concern. The organization is committed to the highest standards of ethical behavior and integrity, and does not tolerate inappropriate or illegal activity on the part of any staff member, board member or volunteer. All staff and volunteers must undergo a thorough criminal background check. All supervisory policies are designed to ensure the maximum safety and protection of Club members and staff. As soon as allegations about Mr. Outland were brought to our attention we removed him from the workplace and contacted the Department of Human Services (DHS). We have been cooperating with the Department of Human Services in all aspects of their investigation. Mr. Outland has not been back to work since May 9th 2015 as the investigation by DHS remains pending. We would never hire or retain an employee, particularly one that works directly with children, who we believe to be in any way a threat to the health or safety of our kids.