GRAND BLANC TWP. (WWJ) - The Genesee County Sheriff is warning parents after a Bay City man was arrested after allegedly fleeing his underage victim’s home.
In a press conference Dec. 30, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said 32-year-old Scott McCarrick was in custody as part of a G.H.O.S.T. operation after an incident and investigation in Grand Blanc Township.
The Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team was started to combat sex trafficking and arrest sexual predators, the GCSO website says.
The parents of a 13-year-old girl went to check on her, and saw the window was open and the screen was missing. While looking outside, the parents reportedly observed a man running away from their house.
Grand Blanc Township Police responded to the house, but were unable to find the man. Swanson said they did locate a phone in the girl’s room that was allegedly left by the suspect. The phone was used to get a search warrant, which led authorities to identify McCarrick as their suspect.
According to Swanson, the interactions between McCarrick and the victim reportedly began about 30 days prior to the incident in her home. McCarrick, who worked as a handyman in the area, saw the girl and started speaking with her.
“That’s where grooming starts,” he said. “They find what they want and then they go after it. Then they start communicating and then they start separating and isolating. Then they show and fill the needs of different individuals, and that’s where we are today.”
The interactions eventually progressed to phones being dropped off to the victim.
Authorities said the victim’s school reportedly saw McCarrick pick her up from school and take her to and from the bus stop. Further assaults allegedly occurred during these times.
During the investigation, it was discovered that McCarrick was in a group chat with the girl and her friends, Swanson said.
McCarrick was charged with 11 felonies. He is facing one count of criminal sexual conduct 1st degree, eight counts of criminal sexual conduct 3rd degree, a 15-year felony, one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes.
“As a parent myself, I cannot imagine,” Swanson said. “When you have your child in your home, and you think it is the safest place. The predators will still come to your home.”
Grand Blanc Community Schools are helping with the investigation by tracking emails that were reportedly sent from school-issued chromebooks.
Swanson said it’s important for parents to “be vigilant” and be aware if there is something in their kids’ rooms that shouldn’t be there.