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Firefighter accused of sex crimes
Sept. 6, 2006
By Tom Wyatt / Post-Tribune staff writer
A South Haven Volunteer Fire Department captain has been jailed for an alleged series of sex crimes investigators are calling some of the most heinous they have encountered.
Michael T. Parsons, 37, of the 700 block of Acadia Road in South Haven, is accused of victimizing a teenage girl on numerous occasions, dating back to when the girl was 10, police said.
Parsons is being held at Porter County Jail without bond, facing felony charges of rape, child molesting, sexual misconduct with a minor, criminal confinement and child exploitation, police said.
“This is one of the worst cases I’ve ever personally been involved with,” Porter County Sheriff’s Detective Cpl. Jeff Biggs said.
Biggs said the case was “just unbelievable.”
Police confiscated several items Parsons is believed to have used to abuse and torture the girl, including including handcuffs and a wooden restraint device Parsons constructed.
The victim told police that Parsons on numerous occasions performed acts of bondage on her, using elaborate torture devices to restrain her. The girl told police Parsons abused her perhaps more than 50 times since she was 10.
Parsons admitted to police his involvement in the abuse. Biggs, however, said Parsons tried to downplay the incident.
“From speaking with him, he doesn’t seem to understand that what he did was wrong,” Biggs said. “He didn’t show a lot of remorse for it. It’s almost as if he thought the contact between himself and this young child was mutual.”
Parsons told police he gave the victim drugs and alcohol and photographed her during the abusive acts.
South Haven Volunteer Fire Department Chief Douglas Patton suspended Parsons and said Tuesday he removed all items from the firehouse with Parsons’ name on them.
A shocked Patton said he and Parsons have been friends for 16 years.
“I didn’t see this one,” Patton said. “The entire department is upset over this. We learn to trust each other down here. This behavior is not tolerated.
“This guy was more than one of my firemen. He was very close to being one of my family. I’m very hurt. I wish I could have done something about this and seen it and stopped it.”
Police were first contacted Friday afternoon after the girl told friends of the abuse. The friends told their mother, who then contacted Portage school officials.
Parsons was arrested late Friday afternoon when Biggs obtained a warrant and officers surrounded Parsons’ house. Police said Parsons refused to answer the door, instead calling “acquaintances” and telling them he didn’t want to return to jail. Biggs said Parsons also called the Sheriff’s Department to ask why police were at his house.
About an hour later, Biggs spoke with Parsons by telephone and convinced Parsons to surrender.
Parsons was arrested on two previous occasions, once in September 1999 and again in June 2000, both times for invasion of privacy, Porter County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tim Emmons said.
Parsons, a steel worker at U.S. Steel Gary Works, had been a member of the South Haven Volunteer Fire Department for about six years before leaving for personal reasons. He returned in March 2005 and was promoted to captain earlier this year, Patton said.
Patton said he was unaware Parsons had been arrested twice before and took responsibility for not administering the usual background check submitted for new volunteers.
“I’ve got a feeling we dropped the ball on this one,” Patton said. “With any new applicant, we do a background check with the police. Mike came in under the radar, being that he was a former member.
“I learned a lesson the hard way on that one. ... We’re supposed to be a safe haven for kids. I’m extremely angry and upset, both as a fire chief and as a friend (of Parsons’).”
In 1998, Parsons unsuccessfully ran in the primary as a Democrat for the Portage Township Board.
Emmons said police do not believe there were any other victims, though the investigation is ongoing. Emmons also said investigators believe Parsons acted alone in the committing the crimes.
Sept. 6, 2006
By Tom Wyatt / Post-Tribune staff writer
A South Haven Volunteer Fire Department captain has been jailed for an alleged series of sex crimes investigators are calling some of the most heinous they have encountered.
Michael T. Parsons, 37, of the 700 block of Acadia Road in South Haven, is accused of victimizing a teenage girl on numerous occasions, dating back to when the girl was 10, police said.
Parsons is being held at Porter County Jail without bond, facing felony charges of rape, child molesting, sexual misconduct with a minor, criminal confinement and child exploitation, police said.
“This is one of the worst cases I’ve ever personally been involved with,” Porter County Sheriff’s Detective Cpl. Jeff Biggs said.
Biggs said the case was “just unbelievable.”
Police confiscated several items Parsons is believed to have used to abuse and torture the girl, including including handcuffs and a wooden restraint device Parsons constructed.
The victim told police that Parsons on numerous occasions performed acts of bondage on her, using elaborate torture devices to restrain her. The girl told police Parsons abused her perhaps more than 50 times since she was 10.
Parsons admitted to police his involvement in the abuse. Biggs, however, said Parsons tried to downplay the incident.
“From speaking with him, he doesn’t seem to understand that what he did was wrong,” Biggs said. “He didn’t show a lot of remorse for it. It’s almost as if he thought the contact between himself and this young child was mutual.”
Parsons told police he gave the victim drugs and alcohol and photographed her during the abusive acts.
South Haven Volunteer Fire Department Chief Douglas Patton suspended Parsons and said Tuesday he removed all items from the firehouse with Parsons’ name on them.
A shocked Patton said he and Parsons have been friends for 16 years.
“I didn’t see this one,” Patton said. “The entire department is upset over this. We learn to trust each other down here. This behavior is not tolerated.
“This guy was more than one of my firemen. He was very close to being one of my family. I’m very hurt. I wish I could have done something about this and seen it and stopped it.”
Police were first contacted Friday afternoon after the girl told friends of the abuse. The friends told their mother, who then contacted Portage school officials.
Parsons was arrested late Friday afternoon when Biggs obtained a warrant and officers surrounded Parsons’ house. Police said Parsons refused to answer the door, instead calling “acquaintances” and telling them he didn’t want to return to jail. Biggs said Parsons also called the Sheriff’s Department to ask why police were at his house.
About an hour later, Biggs spoke with Parsons by telephone and convinced Parsons to surrender.
Parsons was arrested on two previous occasions, once in September 1999 and again in June 2000, both times for invasion of privacy, Porter County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tim Emmons said.
Parsons, a steel worker at U.S. Steel Gary Works, had been a member of the South Haven Volunteer Fire Department for about six years before leaving for personal reasons. He returned in March 2005 and was promoted to captain earlier this year, Patton said.
Patton said he was unaware Parsons had been arrested twice before and took responsibility for not administering the usual background check submitted for new volunteers.
“I’ve got a feeling we dropped the ball on this one,” Patton said. “With any new applicant, we do a background check with the police. Mike came in under the radar, being that he was a former member.
“I learned a lesson the hard way on that one. ... We’re supposed to be a safe haven for kids. I’m extremely angry and upset, both as a fire chief and as a friend (of Parsons’).”
In 1998, Parsons unsuccessfully ran in the primary as a Democrat for the Portage Township Board.
Emmons said police do not believe there were any other victims, though the investigation is ongoing. Emmons also said investigators believe Parsons acted alone in the committing the crimes.
(Me)
What a black eye for firefighters...who children should be able to trust.
-------;- 
"Aaaaa!!"
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