Swanson said the girl is part of the McLeod’s “circle of influence” but he did not elaborate further on their connection.
Flint Police Officer accused of raping young girl
WNEM TV5
Nov 18, 2020
Flint police officer accused of raping, molesting young girl for over two years
Local 21 News
November 18, 2020
FLINT, Mich. (WEYI) - UPDATE: The man above has now been arraigned.
Justin Mcleod is facing multiple charges including four 1st-degree sexual conduct counts and one for unlawful imprisonment.
He requested to be released on a tether, but the judge said no.
Mcleod’s next court date is December 3rd.
The Genesee County Sheriff's Department say a 36-year-old Flint police officer is accused of molesting and raping a young female, under the age of 12.
The sheriff's office says the incident happened on the 6000 block of N. McKinley in Flushing Township.
Sheriff Chris Swanson says on Sunday one of their sexual assault nurses who was contacted by a friend alerted officers with the GHOST team of an alleged disturbing incident that had been occurring for two years.
Swanson says the investigator quickly took action by going to the home that night. He says with the help of Voices for Children they were able to make the victim feel safe and comfortable with sharing her traumatic experience.
Flint Police Chief Terence Green says the officer has been placed on administrative leave without pay. Green says the department has also already started the termination process.
According to Swanson, the suspect has yet to be arraigned, but he's expecting multiple counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct.
Here is a statement from the Flint Police Department:
"The City of Flint Police Department became aware that one of its officers has been arrested and charges are expected soon."The officer was immediately relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave without pay. The process of terminating the officer’s employment with the City of Flint has started."We fully support the investigation being conducted by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department and will assist in every way possible. No one is above the law, especially police officers. We will continue to hold our police to the highest standards and nothing less will ever be acceptable in the City of Flint.
Flint police officer arraigned on multiple sexual assault charges
MLive
Nov. 19, 2020
FLINT, MI -- A Flint police officer faces multiple felony charges in connection with allegations that he molested a girl under 13 years old.
Justin McLeod, 36, was arraigned Thursday, Nov. 19 by Genesee District Judge Jessica J. Hammon on four counts of criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and single counts of accosting a child for immoral purposes, aggravated indecent exposure, and unlawful imprisonment.
The issue came to light over the weekend when a forensic nurse examiner at Ascension Genesys hospital, received a call from a friend about a possible sexual assault.
During a Wednesday, Nov. 18 press conference, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said his office coordinated with Flushing Township police as they headed to a home on Sunday in the 6000 block on North McKinley Road near Coldwater Road to investigate the claims.
McLeod, a five-year veteran with the Flint police and part of the department’s K-9 and motorcycle units, was arrested Monday, Nov. 16 and lodged in the Genesee County Jail.
Swanson said the girl is part of the McLeod’s “circle of influence” but he did not elaborate further on their connection.
Flint Police Chief Terence Green said the department has started the process to terminate the officer’s employment.
In speaking with Swanson, Green said he feels “strongly enough that there is enough information to sustain that termination.”
“As the chief of police, I gave a pledge that we would be transparent,” he added. “Police officers are not above the law. We are cooperating 100 percent with the sheriff’s office.
“This officer doesn’t represent the entire city of Flint Police Department,” Green said. “The majority of the officers come in, they do their job, and they wear the badge with honor, just like any other profession.”
Claudnyse D. Holloman, president and CEO of Voices for Children, a nonprofit outfit who helps perform interviews with underage victims in cooperation with police, said it’s important for children to have an outlet they trust.
“She said she felt safe, she felt believed because (police) came and they rescued her out of the situation,” said Holloman after speaking with the alleged victim.
Swanson argued there are many times when victims don’t feel like anyone believes them.
“The younger they are, the more they feel victimized if they have enough courage to come forward,” Swanson said. “They can’t always describe things like you and I can as adults, but in their own mind they send out little messages of help and assistance.”
McLeod is being held without bond in the Genesee County Jail.
Sheriff says Flint police officer sexually assaulted young girl for two years
MLive
Nov. 19, 2020
FLINT, MI – A Flint police officer is on unpaid administrative as an investigation widens into allegations that he molested a young girl over the course of two years.
The issue came to light over the weekend when a forensic nurse examiner at Ascension Genesys hospital, received a call from a friend about a possible sexual assault.
During a Wednesday, Nov. 18 press conference, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said his office coordinated with Flushing Township police as they headed to a home on Sunday in the 6000 block on North McKinley Road near Coldwater Road to investigate the claims.
The suspect, a five-year veteran with the Flint police and part of the department’s K-9 and motorcycle units, was arrested Monday, Nov. 16 and lodged in the Genesee County Jail.
He is not being named as he has not yet been formally charged, according to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton. Swanson said the girl is part of the suspect’s “circle of influence” but did not elaborate further on their connection.
Flint Police Chief Terence Green said the department has started the process to terminate the officer’s employment.
In speaking with Swanson, Green said he feels “strongly enough that there is enough information to sustain that termination.”
“As the chief of police, I gave a pledge that we would be transparent,” he added. "Police officers are not above the law. We are cooperating 100 percent with the sheriff’s office.
“This officer doesn’t represent the entire city of Flint Police Department,” Green said. “The majority of the officers come in, they do their job, and they wear the badge with honor, just like any other profession.”
Claudnyse D. Holloman, president and CEO of Voices for Children, a nonprofit outfit who helps perform interviews with underage victims in cooperation with police, said it’s important for children to have an outlet they trust.
“She said she felt safe, she felt believed because (police) came and they rescued her out of the situation,” said Holloman after speaking with the alleged victim.
Swanson argued there are many times when victims don’t feel like anyone believes them.
“The younger they are, the more they feel victimized if they have enough courage to come forward,” Swanson said. “They can’t always describe things like you and I can as adults, but in their own mind they send out little messages of help and assistance.”
The incident remains under investigation.
Flint officer facing additional charges after 2nd victim steps forward
WNEM TV5
Nov 25, 2020
Former Flint PD officer accused of sexual assault by 2nd victim, arraigned on new charges
Mid-Michigan Now Newsroom
November 25, 2020
GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. - Former Flint police officer Justin McLeod is facing nine new sexual assault charges according to Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson after a second young victim came forward.
Sheriff Chris Swanson says these new charges are a testament his office will do all it can to hold people who intend to do harm accountable.
“There should be no place where anybody who is hurting our vulnerable whether it’s a child or animal whether it’s an elderly, or somebody mentally ill that those vulnerable people are left unprotected," said Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson says his G.H.O.S.T. team is leaving no stone unturned while investigating.
This week, a second young victim within the circle of influence for 36-year-old former Flint police officer Justin McLeod came forward accusing him of sexual misconduct after learning a young girl under twelve spoke out about her years of abuse.
“By the use of the media that victim came forward and that victim saw the courage of the first victim and said I thought I was the only one," said Swanson.
Swanson says McLeod is facing nine new charges including multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct, child accosting for immoral purposes and aggravated indecent exposure.
"Utilizing his position of authority as a police officer as a canine officer to convince a young individual that he loved them," said Swanson.
Former host of "To Catch a Predator" Chris Hansen joined Swanson during the briefing. The two touched on their recent sting in Shiawasee County --- reminding parents that predators are on the prowl.
"Given the COVID situation the pandemic, kids are spending more time online predators know that it's a very volatile mix," said investigative journalist, Chris Hansen.
As a predator hunter, Hansen is encouraging families to have open conversations because you never know who's out there.
"Once again these guys come from all walks of life. People always ask me if they ever stick out in the crowd but the answer is as the sheriff knows this is "no" they could be the guy standing next to you at the grocery store," said Hansen.
Flint Police Chief Terence Green confirms McLeod has been officially terminated. Swanson says the charges could total more than 100 years in prison if convicted.
Ex-Flint police officer faces more sexual assault charges
MLive
Nov. 27, 2020
FLINT, MI — A former Flint police officer accused of sexually abusing an underage girl faces more charges after a second alleged victim came forward, according to Genesee County Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson.
Justin E. McLeod, 36, a five-year veteran of the Flint Police Department and part of the agency’s K-9 and motorcycle units, was arrested Nov. 16 and lodged in the Genesee County Jail. He was arraigned Nov. 19 on four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim 13 or younger and several other charges.
In a press conference held Wednesday, Nov. 25, Sheriff Swanson said that since news of McLeod’s arrest and charges broke, a second person reported being victimized by McLeod. Swanson said the second person was motivated by “the courage of the first victim.”
Swanson said this second person is not related to McLeod but is in his “circle of influence,” a term he used to describe the first person who alleged misconduct by McLeod.
On Wednesday, McLeod was arraigned on nine more criminal charges — four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and single counts of accosting children for immoral purposes, extortion, assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, distribution of child sexually explicit material and common law offenses.
The initial issue came to light when a forensic nurse examiner at Ascension Genesys hospital received a call about a possible sexual assault. During a Nov. 18 press conference, Swanson said his office coordinated with Flushing Township police as they investigated the claims.
McLeod was placed on unpaid administrative leave after the initial allegations came to light. Flint Police Chief Terence Green said on Wednesday that McLeod has since been terminated.
Swanson reiterated that victims of abuse, sexual or otherwise, should feel confident in coming to his agency to divulge what they have gone through.
Justin McLeod Sentenced
Michigan Department Of Corrections
August 24, 2021
Former Flint police officer sentenced to prison after guilty plea in sexual assault case
MLive
Aug. 26, 2021
FLINT, MI -- A former Flint police officer has been sentenced to serve a minimum of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of criminal sexual conduct.
Justin E. McLeod, a Flushing man who served six years on the Flint Police Department and was part of the agency’s K-9 and motorcycle units, was sentenced Aug 23 by Genesee County Circuit Court Judge F. Kay Behm to serve 10 to 15 years in prison.
McLoed, who was 36 years old at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to 6 of 18 counts against him related to the sexual abuse of two separate victims.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office arrested the former officer in November 2020 after an investigation into the assault of an underage girl.
The initial issue came to light when a forensic nurse examiner at Ascension Genesys hospital received a call about a possible sexual assault, according to prior reporting.
During a Nov. 18 press conference, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said his office coordinated with Flushing Township police to investigate the claims.
In this case, McLoed pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree sexual conduct, both reduced from a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under the age of 13.
He was sentenced by Judge Behm to 10 to 15 years on each of the four charges, which will be served concurrently. Five additional charges in the case were dismissed.
Shortly after McLeod’s arrest, a second person reported being victimized by McLeod.
Swanson previously said the second person was motivated by “the courage of the first victim.”
In the second case, McLeod pleaded guilty to assault with the intent of sexual penetration and common law offenses and was sentenced to serve just over 6.5 years to 10 years and 40 to 60 months respectively.
Seven additional counts were dismissed against McLeod in this case.
The sentences in both cases will be served concurrently.
McLeod is required to register as a lifetime tier III sex offender and wear an electronic monitor.
He was placed on unpaid leave and later terminated from the Flint Police Department after the allegations came to light.
