Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY - A South Whitley man was arrested after allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to a news release from the Indiana State Police (ISP), on Thursday, Oct. 8, detectives with the ISP Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested a South Whitley man on alleged charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation by the ISP ICAC Task Force began when tips were received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tips led to a search warrant being served on a residence in South Whitley.
As a result of the investigation, Ryan Michel, 38, South Whitley, was arrested on two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. Michel was transported to the Whitley County Jail and booked into custody.
The ISP was assisted by the Whitley County Sheriff Department, South Whitley Police Department, Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
The ISP oversee the ICAC Task Force, a multiagency task force that investigates allegations of using the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. The ICAC Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation and enticement-type crimes against children to the National center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), according to the release. The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website at https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/
