Ohio man attempted to kidnap Manitowoc County girl, police say

MANITOWOC COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - An Ohio man was arrested for child enticement and abduction after being found with a 12-year-old Manitowoc County girl.

On Feb. 27, police were called to a trespassing complaint at a home in the township of Eaton. The homeowner found a pickup truck in his driveway. He said the driver got stuck in some snow and took off running. This was about 2:26 a.m.

The Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office says they located the driver, 22-year-old Matthew R. Dice of Uniontown, Ohio. He was with a 12-year-old girl from rural Valders.

Investigators searched their electronic devices and determined Dice met the girl online and drove to Manitowoc County to get her. They say Dice intended to bring her to Ohio.

Dice was arrested for Child Enticement, Child Abduction and Trespassing. He’s being held at the Manitowoc County Jail.

“Please take time to discuss internet safety with your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews,” says Sheriff Dan Hartwig. “Do your best to monitor their electronic devices and remind them of potential vulnerabilities they may encounter.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot more people are looking to chat online.

Amy Flanders of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center, in the Fox Cities, says it’s important for children of all ages, to understand the consequences of giving out personal details to a stranger.

“Don’t give out our name, our last name, our address, phone number, to anybody online. Don’t describe the neighborhood we live in, don’t give a description of our home and kind of tell them if somebody starts asking you those things, that’s sort of a key to stop.”