Fallsnewspress.com - Missing girl from Munroe Falls found; two charged

by Kristin Casale

Stow Sentry Associate Editor

Munroe Falls -- A 16-year-old girl who had been missing since Jan. 27 was found Feb. 8, and two people were arrested and charged for allegedly concealing the girl from police, according to Munroe Falls Police Chief Scott Bellinger.

Police reported on the department's MySpace page Feb. 8 that Jerica Nielsen was found and released to her mother. Officers created the page to aid the investigation.

Bellinger said the department received a number of helpful tips through the site, but investigative work by police officers also contributed to closing the case.

Bellinger said through examining phone records, officers determined 48-year-old Susan Crossen of Cuyahoga Falls "concealed" Nielsen from police.

Bellinger said after officers informed Crossen Feb. 7 they planned to charge her, she called police Feb. 8 around noon to report Nielsen planned to turn herself in to Cuyahoga Falls Police.

Crossen was arrested Feb. 8 and charged with interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor; and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and obstructing official business, second-degree misdemeanors. She is free on a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court Feb. 15, Bellinger said.

Also accused of failing to reveal Nielsen's whereabouts to police is a 16-year-old who Bellinger said is a friend of Nielsen and was charged with obstructing official business and referred to Summit County Juvenile Court.

According to Bellinger, Munroe Police created the MySpace page on the Internet shortly after they were informed of Nielsen's disappearance.

He said the department plans to use the site, www.myspace.com/munroefallspolice, in future investigations.

"MySpace is a good source of information because it's the way kids communicate nowadays," said Bellinger. "[The site] is going to become a permanent thing."

E-mail: kcasale@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3917