Massachusetts man accused of kidnapping young girl at beach and assaulting her
04/22/2024 2:37 pm PDT
WEBSTER, Mass. (TCD) -- Police have arrested a 68-year-old man on suspicion of kidnapping and assaulting a juvenile at a beach last week.
On Monday, April 15, the juvenile victim, accompanied by her grandmother, spoke with officers at the Webster Police Department and alleged Walter Fanion "lured her inside his car" at Memorial Beach. According to police, the girl said Fanion drove her somewhere to drop off his dog, and then he "assaulted her inappropriately."
"The gentleman had a dog with him," Webster Police Chief Michael Shaw told WBTS-TV. Shaw said that "sparked some interaction there," and they had a "conversation about the dog" before she ended up in the man's vehicle.
Following the incident, Fanion reportedly dropped off the girl near her home, and she told her grandmother about it.
Through their investigation, police learned Fanion told the girl he would be back at the beach the next day around 11:30 a.m. Detectives and other law enforcement officials surrounded the area, and they found Fanion's car using the victim's description.
Police tracked the suspect over the next few days. Following a forensic interview with the victim, officials followed Fanion to Memorial Beach and arrested him.
Fanion faces charges of kidnapping, enticing a child under 16, and four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. According to police, he remains held on $75,040 bail.
Shaw said, "It seems to be he frequented the beach, so we ask if anyone had any contact with him, or if their children recognize him and they had inappropriate contact with him, we encourage them to contact us."
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