Crime & Safety
Macomb Authorities Snare Man Wearing 'Star Wars' Costume in Online Sting
Undercover detectives made arrangements for a meeting suspect thought was with an underaged child.
A 60-year-old southeast Michigan man wearing a “Star Wars” costume got a pre-Halloween surprise Wednesday when, instead of meeting up with underaged child for sex, he found himself ensnared in a sting operation.
Daniel Fritz, 60, of Canton thought he was talking online with a child, but instead was conversing with an undercover detective from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, the Detroit Free Press and WXYZ-TV, Channel 7, report.
When he showed up to meet the child at a pre-arranged meeting place, he wore a helmet like that worn by Boba Fett, the Mandalorian warrior and bounty hunter from “Star Wars.”
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He had placed an ad on an undisclosed social media website that investigators said was “highly indicative of child sexual exploitation.”
Fritz was arrested at the location, and was arraigned in 39th District Court in Roseville on two charges of child sexual abuse activity and two charges of using a computer in the commission of a crime, Macomb County officials said Monday.
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He is being held on $50,000 cash or surety bond. His next court date is Nov. 12.
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Photos: Macomb County Sheriff’s Office booking photo and selfie of suspect in “Star Wars” costume released by the sheriff’s office.
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