A fugitive from Indiana wanted on child molestation charges was apprehended and arrested by the West Seneca Police Department during a routine traffic stop on his way to the Erie County Fair where he intended to operate children's rides. The arrest was made after the police discovered the individual's true identity and outstanding warrants.
According to authorities, the West Seneca Police Officer was traveling on the westbound I-90 when he initiated a traffic stop for a Ford F-350 pulling a trailer containing children's carnival rides. The officer had noticed a cracked windshield and observed that the front passenger was not wearing a seat belt. During the traffic stop, the driver informed the officer that he was en route to the Erie County Fairgrounds. However, he was unable to provide a valid driver's license and instead presented a carnival company ride operator ID tag bearing the name 'James Davis.
Suspecting something amiss, the officer directed the driver to an off-site DOT inspection station for further investigation. Upon further questioning, the driver provided inconsistent information regarding his date of birth. Subsequent investigation revealed the man's true identity as Michael Wayne Gordon from Kokomo, Indiana. It was further discovered that Gordon had extraditable warrants in Indiana for two Level 1 felony counts of child molesting and a Level 5 count of failure to register as a sex offender.
West Seneca Police officers promptly took Gordon into custody and transported him to the West Seneca Police Department. In addition to the outstanding warrants, Gordon was issued several commercial vehicle violations. He was subsequently transferred to the Erie County Holding Center where he awaits extradition to Indiana.
The West Seneca Police Department emphasized in their social media post that Gordon has a history of child molestation convictions in Indiana. Court records indicate that he was convicted in 1994 and again in April 1998 after which he was required to register as a sex offender.
In March 2004, Gordon faced another conviction for failure to register. Most recently, in February 2021, prosecutors in Miami County, Indiana, filed a child molesting case against him. Gordon failed to appear for a hearing in March 2023 resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant.