'I'm not giving you an option': GPD credits speedy rescue of kidnapping victim to insistent officer

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A 12-year-old girl is back home with her family after Galveston police said she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a man with a criminal history in at least five states. On Thursday, law enforcement credited one officer with their speedy recovery.

"There are certain things you'll remember; this is one of those things I'll remember for the rest of my career," Galveston Police SWAT and K-9 officer Joshua Nino said.

Nino said when the call went out on Jan. 30 that a 12-year-old girl was missing, he was one of the officers tasked with solving the case.

Galveston police said the child and her alleged kidnapper, 27-year-old Graham Michael Dunn, met on social media before Graham was accused of kidnapping her.

RELATED: Galveston police say kidnapping suspect had pending charges in multiple states

Nino said the victim was taken while out walking her dog and was able to hold onto her cellphone. Her phone's location led law enforcement to the Galveston Beach Hotel West. But when hotel staff told Nino they didn't have access to the hotel's security cameras, Nino said he switched from asking to insisting.

"I didn't really give them an option to, you know, we don't have access to the cameras. 'We need to call someone right now, we need to wake them up, get them down here, because we are watching the cameras. Very respectfully, but I'm not giving you an option,'" Nino said.

Nino said his persistence worked. Once able to access the video, Nino saw who appeared to be the child, and Dunn, enter a hotel room.

"Knocked on the door, announced, and had no response. Popped the key, opened the door, and the inside latch was still on, showing that someone was inside. We made a couple more verbal commands, had a verbal response, but no one was coming to the door. At that point, I made the decision to force the door by kicking it," Nino said.

Dunn was cuffed and arrested; video captured by a bystander showed him shirtless, being put inside a police vehicle.

Nino said with Dunn out of the room, the 12-year-old and her safety were the priority.

"We immediately got an ambulance and had a female victim come in and take over being with her," Nino said.

In court records, it's alleged that Dunn gave the child pills, touched her, and filmed part of their interaction.

And now, Galveston police share they have learned Dunn is accused of crimes in Dallas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Massachusetts. Some of those crimes, investigators said, involve sexual crimes against both adults and children.

Police said Dunn has a history of fleeing to avoid court proceedings while out on bond and during probation.

In Galveston, Dunn now faces three new felonies. Investigators are requesting no bond to ensure that this time, the court process can proceed.

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