SEDGWICK COUNTY—Police have arrested a suspect after investigating two incidents at Gordon Parks Academy, 2201 E 25th Street N. Wichita, in which he entered the school and made unauthorized contact with a 13-year-old girl, according to a media release from Wichita Police.
Detectives booked the suspect identified in county booking records as 36-year-old Michael D. Arnold into the Sedgwick County Jail on a stalking charge.
The first incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, at Gordon Parks Academy. Investigators learned Arnold gained access to the building and had contact with the 13-year-old girl speaking with her without parental authorization.
The second incident happened Tuesday, March 10, when Arnold returned to the school entered the building where school staff told him to leave immediately and called police.
Detectives with the Wichita Police Department’s Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked the case and at 3:05 p.m., Wednesday, officers took Arnold into custody and transported him to the Sedgwick County Jail.
USD 259 has banned Arnold from all district schools.
Investigators will present the facts of the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said, “Our concern is first and foremost with this young girl and her family. This incident is deeply troubling, and I know it has also caused concern throughout the school community and across Wichita. Any situation involving the safety of a child demands our full attention. I am grateful for the officers whose work brought this man into custody. I want the family, the school, and the public to know that our Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit and our entire department remains committed to protecting children and ensure the individual involved in this incident is held accountable.”