PETOSKEY, Mich. (WWJ) -- A Northern Michigan man has been arrested after a missing child from out of state was found in his home, according to police.
Wednesday night, Michigan State Police said the Gaylord Regional Communication Center for a call from police in West Virginia about a missing persons case.
An officer with the West Virginia police department told troopers his agency was looking for a missing juvenile, and that his agency received information indicating that she was in the Petoskey area. The officer also said they had reason to believe the juvenile was with a registered sex offender.
Troopers got a search warrant for a home in Petoskey, where they went inside and found the missing girl.
She was taken to the MSP Gaylord Post and arrangements are being made to return her to her home in West Virginia, police said.
According to MSP, a 26-year-old man in the home told police he knew that the girl was reported missing, and that he was allowing her to stay with him.
Police said the man is a registered sex offender with a previous conviction of criminal sexual conduct victim under 13.
MSP said police in West Virginia are handling the ongoing investigation into how the missing girl and the suspect met, and how she got to his home. MSP said state that she was considered a runaway.
The man's name was not immediately released, with expected charges pending.
Police did not disclose the recovered juvenile's name or age.