Missing teen found during Okla. traffic stop, man arrested
CANADIAN COUNTY, Okla. -- A routine traffic stop led to a Massachusetts man being arrested after police found a missing California teen traveling with him, reports CBS affiliate KWTV.
A sheriff's deputy on patrol reportedly stopped Michael Papadonis for following too closely to another vehicle on Wednesday. The 34-year-old man was was traveling with a teen girl, who the deputy noted was young enough to be the driver's daughter, according to the station.
The deputy then began to ask questions, including who the girl was. The suspect reportedly replied she was his cousin and that they were on their way back to Massachusetts.
When asked, the teen added she was 14 years old and corroborated that she was Papadonis' cousin, according to KWTV.
When the deputy asked Papadonis if he could search his truck, he declined and a K9 unit was called in. The dog then made a positive match, giving the deputies probable cause to do a search -- which led to the officers finding several photos of the suspect and teen kissing as well as a Los Angeles student ID card.
There was also a glass pipe with an unknown residue. After a brief scuffle, police arrested Papadonis, according to the station.
The deputies later learned the teen had been reported missing on Monday.
A female investigator then took the girl to the hospital, where the girl allegedly admitted she and Papadonis had sex just a few hours before the traffic stop.
When investigators contacted the girl's mother, the mother reportedly told authorities that she was aware of her daughter's relationship, according to KWTV. However, she told police did not give her permission to leave the state with Papadonis.
When she went to pick up her daughter from school on Monday, the mother noticed she was gone and filed a missing persons reports, according to the station.
"I find it extremely disturbing that any parent could suspect a 34-year-old man is having a sexual relationship with their 14-year-old daughter, and not do anything about it. If she lived in Canadian County, I'd put her in jail too," Randall Edwards, Canadian County Sheriff, told KWTV.
Papadonis was reportedly charged of lewd acts with a child and resisting arrest, but narcotics charges are also possible. Bond was set at $51,000, according to the station