BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – A 22-year-old Colorado man has been arrested on charges that he planned to kidnap a 16-year-old Suamico girl.
Brown County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Todd Delain says Curtis Bowser started an online relationship with the girl more than a year ago, which was later noticed by her parents.
“The parents advised that the adult male had engaged in telephone conversations with their daughter and, in fact, had sent their daughter a cell phone to use to talk to him.”
Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jim Valley says his agency was not immediately notified.
“It goes back some time, to where the individual was contacted (by the girl’s parents) and told not to (contact her), to where it did not elevate into a criminal charge.”
Investigators say the two never met in person but believe he was “grooming” her for a life together.
Valley says it was only recently that the parents did involve law enforcement.
“We were not notified until after he already left Colorado of this particular situation, where he planned to come and abduct the child.”
Delain says they contacted partner agencies in other parts of the state to be on the lookout for Bowser.
“We were able to locate him driving northbound, north of Madison, Wisconsin. Law enforcement was able to surveil Mr. Bowser from that location, directly to the Village of Suamico.”
Delain says Bowser was arrested Tuesday in the vicinity of the girl’s home.
Charges of Attempted Abduction of a Child, Child Enticement, Possession of THC, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia have been filed against Bowser.
Bowser is expected to make an initial appearance Thursday afternoon.
