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Michael P. Trost
Crete Police arrest Manteno firefighter  Share
Chief of Police James M. Paoletti announced the arrest of Michael P. Trost, 43, from Manteno. Trost was arrested after a nearly two-month investigation in which Trost thought he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl on the internet. But in reality, he was communicating with a Crete police officer who is specially trained to combat indecent solicitations of children via the internet. Trost initiated sexually explicit internet conversations and requested to have a sexual encounter with the undercover officer. On Wednesday, May 27, Trost arrived at a pre-determined location in order to meet and engage in sexual intercourse with the supposed 13-year-old. He was immediately taken into custody and, upon questioning, gave a full confession to police. Trost is a fulltime firefighter/paramedic for the Manteno Community Fire Protection District. Trost is an 11-year veteran of the District. He admitted to using his laptop computer to communicate with the undercover officer. The laptop was not issued by his employer, as previously reported. A search warrant was obtained from the Will County Courts and executed at Trost's home, where police recovered the laptop computer used in the crime. The computer will be analyzed for evidence in this case. Trost's 2008 Ford pick-up truck also was impounded and towed.
Trost is charged with indecent solicitation of a child, a class III felony; traveling to meet a minor, a class III felony; and grooming, a class IV felony. ''Grooming'' is the statutory description of using a computor or other electronic means to solicit sex with a minor. Trost appeared before Will County Judge Richardson on Thursday, May 28, and bond was set at $200,000. The next hearing in the case is set for Monday, June 22. According to Fire Chief Scott O'Brien, ''Trost has been placed on administrative leave until further notice. A serious criminal investigation involving Trost is being conducted by the Crete Police Department and the Will County States Attorney's Office. The crimes Trost has been accused of committing are very serious offenses. The criminal case takes precedence over their (Manteno Community Fire Protection District) internal investigation. They are cooperating fully with Crete Police and Will County States Attorney. Additional information may be available after their internal investigation.'' Crete police have investigated and arrested several child predators over the past few months. Cornell Hudson is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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