HARRISON, Mich. (WJRT) – An arrest has been made in an online predator investigation, as a 44-year-old man was taken into custody on Saturday, March 7. The arrest, carried out by a sergeant from the Clare County Sheriff’s Office, occurred at the suspect’s home on E. Long Lake Road.
The investigation began after the nonprofit organization Bikers Against Predators alerted authorities. The group had been in contact with Richard Todd Shank for several days, during which he believed he was interacting with two individuals posing as 12- and 13-year-old girls.
During these exchanges, Shank allegedly requested explicit images from the decoys and tried to arrange physical meetings with them for illicit purposes. Following a confrontation at Shank’s residence by the Bikers Against Predators, law enforcement was called to the scene.
Upon arrival, the sergeant conducted an interview with Shank and, based on gathered evidence, placed him under arrest.
Shank is being held at the Clare County Jail on multiple felony charges. He has been arraigned in the 80th District Court, and his bond is set at $20,000 cash or surety. He faces the following charges:
- Two counts of Computers: Communicating with Another to Commit a Crime
- Two counts of Child Sexually Abusive Activity
- Two counts of Accosting Children for Immoral Purposes
- Two counts of Computers: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime
The investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be filed.
