Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Child solicitation arrest
2. Indy man arrested for child solicitation

Police arrested a 77-year-old man in Grant County after he arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl at a Mexican restaurant, only to discover she was a decoy set up by a local predator catcher group. Michael Scanlan was charged with child solicitation under the age of 14, a level 4 felony. Scanlan exchanged messages with the decoy, asking for explicit photos and setting up a meeting in a Walmart parking lot. However, when he arrived, he was met by members of the predator catcher group and subsequently detained by police. Scanlan confessed to arranging the meeting for sexual purposes and was booked at the Grant County Jail.

Indy Man Arrested at Mexican Restaurant in Grant County

A 77-year-old man from Indianapolis, Michael Scanlan, was arrested at a Mexican restaurant in Grant County after allegedly arranging a dinner with a 13-year-old girl who turned out to be a decoy set up by a local predator catcher group.

Police Intervention

The Marion Police Department received a call on Monday afternoon regarding a suspicious white male in his 70s at a Mexican restaurant in the 3100 block of S. Western Avenue. The caller, Predator Catchers Indiana (PCI), informed the police that the man, later identified as Scanlan, was there to meet a 13-year-old girl.

Decoy Operation

Upon arrival, officers met with PCI employees who presented evidence indicating that Scanlan had been in contact with a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl. Scanlan confessed to arranging a meeting with the girl and admitted to the foolishness of his actions.

Incriminating Messages

According to PCI, Scanlan initiated contact with the decoy on the MeetMe app before exchanging phone numbers. The conversation quickly turned sexual, with Scanlan making explicit requests and acknowledging the girl’s age.

Arrest and Confrontation

Despite the planned meeting in a Walmart parking lot, Scanlan was intercepted by members of the predator catcher group instead of the young girl. The police were then contacted, and Scanlan was taken into custody without resistance.

Legal Proceedings

Scanlan was charged with child solicitation under the age of 14, a level 4 felony, and was transported to the Grant County Jail. During the journey, Scanlan revealed that he had been recently expelled from his home in Indianapolis and had traveled to Marion with the intent of engaging in sexual activities with a minor.

Conclusion

Scanlan’s current status at the Grant County Jail is unknown, as the online records have not been updated. The Marion Police Department has not released any further details regarding the case. The arrest serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant efforts to protect minors from harm.