Parolee arrested for smoking joint with date who accuses him of rape, abduction.

Parolee arrested for smoking joint with date who accuses him of rape, abduction.

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VICTORY TOWNSHIP — A 40-year-old Ludington man was arrested for a parole violation after his date with a woman he met online took a turn for the worst Thursday afternoon.

Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole said the man and a mid-state woman had met online and had gotten together Thursday, Dec. 19.

“The woman had drove over to Mason County and met the man in his apartment,” Cole said. “They then drove out to an area near Countyline and Custer roads in Free Soil Township, perhaps even in Manistee County. They had what appears to have been consensual sex and afterwards, apparently smoked a joint of marijuana.”

Cole said that’s when things changed. The female called 911 and reported that she had been sexually assaulted and abducted by the man.

“But, they both got in the car together and started driving back to Ludington,” Cole added.

The call happened during the Mason County Sheriff’s Office’s shift change, which meant there were multiple units available. Manistee County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police responded along with seven vehicles (including an unmarked detective vehicle) also responded.

“We took this call very serious,” Cole said. “This woman was very distraught when she called 911 and she told the dispatcher that she was in the vehicle with her assailant and that she had been drugged, abducted and raped. She remained in contact with 911 while in the car. From the woman’s tone, it was very confusing for us to understand how the assailant was in the car and not aware that the alleged victim was calling 911.”

Law enforcement was able to pull over the car at Stiles and Fountain roads in Victory Township.

“As soon as the man driving the car saw a patrol car he pulled over. The woman then runs up to a deputy and the driver gives up.

“All evidence shows that this was a consensual situation,” Cole said adding that both the man and woman were interviewed extensively by law enforcement. The woman was also offered medical treatment. “However, the man was on parole and smoking marijuana is a violation of the terms of his parole, therefore he was arrested.”

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