FROM STAFF REPORTS
A Sherrills Ford man has been charged with sexually assaulting two women following an investigation by the Mooresville Police Department.
The MPD announced the arrest of Michael Brandon Shinn, 29, in a news release on Wednesday afternoon.
According to police, he is a suspect in additional sexual assaults.
On June 19, MPD responded to a sexual assault call that occurred at 1459 River Hwy in Mooresville. The victim stated that she met the suspect online and agreed to meet in Mooresville on June 16. After meeting the suspect, the victim got into the suspect’s vehicle and was taken to a remote parking lot at 1459 River Hwy where she was forcibly sexually assaulted by the suspect, police said.
After the assault, the suspect left the victim in the parking lot without her vehicle or phone. Detectives were able to identify the suspect using information from the victim about him and his vehicle, police said. The victim stated the suspect was a middle-aged white male and drove a silver/gray Dodge Charger with a black stripe. Detectives obtained warrants charging him with the sex crimes he committed against the victim.
While conducting the initial investigation, detectives were contacted by Huntersville Police Department who advised a second victim, hospitalized in Huntersville, had been sexually assaulted by the same suspect on June 21.
The second victim was interviewed by detectives and gave a very similar description to the first victim of the suspect, his vehicle, and how the assault occurred, police said. This victim also met the suspect online and agreed to meet in Mooresville. This victim stated she were driven to the same remote parking lot and sexually assaulted by the suspect, who then left her at the scene, police said.
Detectives obtained arrest warrants on the suspect for this incident.
During the course of the investigation detectives learned that the suspect, who was targeting women online, may be involved in similar incidents in other jurisdictions, according to the news release.
MPD detectives are working with multiple surrounding agencies, who have similar cases involving the suspect, and agencies as far away as California, where authorities have indicated to detectives that the suspect may have committed similar crimes, to locate and identify other possible victims that the suspect may have sexually assaulted.
Shinn was charged with two counts of second-degree forcible rape and one count of second-degree forcible sex offense. He was placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $600,000 secured bond.
If you or anyone you know may have been a victim of or had contact with this suspect, you are encouraged contact Mooresville Police Department Detective Saladino at 704-664-3311.
