Massachusetts Man Accused of Assault After He Used Dog to Lure Young Girl Into His Car, Police Say

A 68-year-old man in Massachusetts has been arrested after police claim he kidnapped and assaulted a minor while at the beach.

On April 15, the young victim and her grandmother spoke with officers and alleged Walter Fanion “lured her inside his car” at Memorial Beach, according to the Webster Police Department.

The girl claimed Fanion drove her somewhere to drop off his dog, and then he “assaulted her inappropriately," according to law enforcement officials.

Webster Police Chief Michael Shaw told WBTS-TV that Fanion had a dog with him and that “sparked some kind of interaction there,” and he and the girl had a “conversation about the dog” before she ended up in the man’s vehicle.

The victim then said Fanion dropped her off near her home, and she told her grandmother what happened, police said.

Investigators determined Fanion told the girl he would be back at the beach the next day around 11:30 a.m.

On April 16, law enforcement officials surrounded the Memorial Beach area and located Fanion’s car based on the girl’s description.

Police tracked the suspect over the next few days and patrol was increased around the beach, authorities said.

Following a forensic interview with the minor, officials followed Fanion to Memorial Beach and arrested him on April 19.

He was charged with kidnapping, enticing a child under 16 and four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, officials said.

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Fanion was booked into jail and was being held on $75,040 bail.

"It seems to be he frequented the beach, so we ask if anyone had any contact with him, or if their children recognize him and they had inappropriate contact with him, we encourage them to contact us," Shaw urged.