Man Wanted In Illinois For Sexual Acts Against A Child Caught In Tulsa

A man facing 31 counts of sexual assault against a child is now in a Tulsa jail.

Police officers said they captured former Bixby graduate Gary Grodin Thursday afternoon, nearly a week after leaving Swansea, Illinois.

They worked across state lines to capture Grodin, who is now waiting in jail until the extradition process is finished and goes back to face an Illinois judge.

Grodin has a long list of sexual assault accusations against him and police believe he had been sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl for about two months.

Swansea Police Chief, Steve Johnson said, "Binding the hands of this 10-year-old victim while forcing sexual acts the suspect captures on video these heinous crimes."

Swansea Illinois Police had been looking for Grodin, and Tulsa police found him.

Swansea officers said the acts Grodin is accused of came to light when messages he sent to a friend on Facebook were forwarded to police.

"The message explained how the suspect was committing sexual acts with the 10-year-old daughter of the girlfriend he was living with," Johnson explained.

When police went to the girl's home Grodin was already gone.

Through the investigation, police found Grodin may have come back to Tulsa, so the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes task force and Tulsa police teamed up and found him walking near Independence and Lewis.

Corporal Gene Watkins, TPD said, "Anytime you can take someone in custody that way off the streets especially if they did this crime again we won't know until he is convicted bu tit makes you feel good feel like you did your job correctly,”

John Kelly lives in the neighborhood where police picked up Grodin. He said it's filled with children and, while he doesn't know the suspect, he's happy someone accused of sexual assault against a child is behind bars.

"It’s a shame too because these are poor kids they don't ask for this, you know and it's just horrible," he said.

Police said, based on the nature of the crime, it's possible the child isn't Grodin's only victim.

They said if you expect your child has come in contact with Grodin to contact police.