Dangerous U.S. sex suspect sought in our area

A truck belonging to a 36-year-old fugitive child-molestation suspect has turned up in a ditch in Goulais River, Ontario Provincial Police report tonight.

The truck, which has Indiana licence plates, is believed to have crossed the International Bridge around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

It belongs to Michael Reahard (shown), who's wanted for skipping bail in the U.S. on eight felony sexual assaults on children.

Reahard is described in a Wabash County, Indiana Sheriff's Department booking sheet as white, 200 pounds with brown hair of medium length.

He's five feet seven inches tall and has green eyes.

Reahard is said to have lured his victims using the Internet.

Offered children jobs on farm

According to U.S. sources, he worked on a farm, approaching children with offers to work there.

Most of Reahard's victims are said to be elementary and middle-school children.

One boy reported his actions after a school program that dealt with inappropriate touching, using a post-class questionnaire that asked him to disclose any instances of child molestation.

The boy accused Reahard of inappropriate conduct and provided names of other children whom he identified as fellow victims.

When police obtained a search warrant, they found photographs and other evidence on a computer that enabled them to lay charges.

Attempts were made to conceal evidence on the machine, police said.

The following news release was issued Saturday night by the Ontario Provincial Police:

*************************** Abandoned truck may lead to escaped sex offender

Goulais River, Ontario - An abandoned truck found on an isolated sideroad in Goulais River has OPP believing that a child molester may be somewhere in this area.

Just before noon today (Saturday) officers from the Sault Ste. Marie OPP responded to a report of a truck in the ditch on Kirby Road, off of Bellevue Valley Road, in Goulais River.

The truck had Indiana licence plates on the vehicle.

Further investigation revealed that the registered owner of the truck has skipped bail in WABASH COUNTY, INDIANA for eight felony sexual assaults on children.

Information from the Wabash County Sheriff’s department revealed that the owner of the truck, thirty-six-year-old Michael REAHARD, found and lured his victims through the Internet.

Although Mr. REAHARD only has eight felony charges against him, Wabash County Sheriff’s department advised the Sault Ste Marie OPP that there may have been as many as thirty three (33) sexual assault victims related to Mr. REAHARD.

Why and how this truck got onto such an isolated road in this area remains a mystery to police.

So far this investigation has revealed the truck crossed into Canada, at the Sault Ste Marie border, at about 10:30 p.m. Friday night.

Ontario Provincial Police in Sault Ste Marie believe that Mr. REAHARD was traveling alone in the truck when he entered Canada.

OPP have obtained a photograph of the suspect from the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department.

The booking photograph is attached to this media release

If you see this man or have any information about his whereabouts please do not attempt to stop or apprehend him

Please call the Ontario Provincial Police toll free at 1-888-310-1122.

Please see the attached photo.

************************************** UPDATE: In an unrelated story, Sault OPP were still unaware as of 7:30 p.m. Saturday of the whereabouts of a motorist who's overdue arriving in Sault Ste. Marie from Halifax. For details, please click here.