A sex offender who fled to the United States earlier this month is now a suspect in the sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy in Seattle.
In a news release Tuesday, police allege that Michael Stanley, 48, met a teenage boy in a grocery store and after striking a conversation with him, walked to an alley in West Seattle and gave him alcohol.
Police allege that Stanley sexually assaulted the boy. The teen then pulled a knife on Stanley and “was able to run to another location and contact police,” according to the news release.
Seattle detectives believe the incident caused people to phone police about noise and threats emanating from the alleyway. After investigating complaints, officers arrested Stanley on Tuesday at 6 a.m. for harassment.
“A 16-year-old male walked over to the officers and basically tells them that he was sexually assaulted by the guy that they had in handcuffs,” Seattle police spokeswoman Det. Renee Witt told CTV News.
Police allege Stanley threatened to assault a person after being told by the individual to quiet down, and that he then became “combative with officers and claimed he had a knife” when police arrived at the scene.
According to police, Stanley is currently in the King County Jail, but will be rebooked on additional charges.
Last week, a Seattle reporter caught up with Stanley. He told KIRO TV that his presence shouldn’t cause people to panic.
“My face is all over, you think I’m going to do a crime? I have people ratting me out left and right anyway, so what good is that, I don’t want to be in jail,” Stanley told the reporter.
The reporter asked Stanley if he is dangerous to the community now.
“Have you heard anybody being hurt by me? No,” he replied.
Stanley had previously served nine years in prison for aggravated sexual assault against an elderly woman in a wheelchair.
In 2006, he was convicted of assault and unlawful confinement of two boys, aged nine and 13. He was released from jail in April 2011 after completing a 32-month sentence.
On Oct. 1, he went missing after removing his electronic monitoring bracelet near the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. His disappearance triggered a multi-province search and school lockdowns in Saskatchewan.
Police announced on Friday that Stanley, an American citizen, had crossed into the United States on Oct. 7. After entering the country, law enforcement officials said Stanley was required to register as a sex offender.
He is still wanted in Canada on charges of breach of recognizance, mischief and driving offences -- but his most recent charges relate to cutting off his ankle bracelet and fleeing.
Canadian officials decided not to seek extradition after Stanley entered the United States. In a statement on Oct.12, the Alberta government said although Michael Stanley has a criminal record of violent offences, the Canadian warrant for "Breach of Peace Bond" is not serious enough to justify asking American authorities to turn him over.
In Seattle, Stanley’s address was listed as an intersection a block away from Pike Place Market, a destination for tourists and locals, which is also near a preschool. He had been ordered to stay away from children in Canada.
With files from The Canadian Press and CTV Alberta’s Janet Dirks
