A string of arrests have been made following two incidents Monday involving a fight on University Avenue and an older man allegedly soliciting a young girl for sex.
Police were called to the 600 block of State Street Monday evening after a man allegedly solicited an 11-year-old girl for sex.
Michael Davis, 42, of Madison, was taken into custody on charges of disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing and a parole violation, police reports said.
The 11-year-old girl and her 17-year-old sister were walking on State Street when the sister crossed the street to view a restaurant menu. While she was away, Davis allegedly approached the 11-year-old and asked her to come with him. He then solicited the young girl for sex before the sister returned, and the sisters attempted to leave the area.
The man then followed the two and continued to stare and make inappropriate comments. Police responded soon after, and the young girl was visibly shaken and crying as police questioned the two girls.
Police were able to find the man and the girls identified Davis as the suspect, after which he was taken into custody, the report said.
According to DeSpain, the man was uncooperative with police and smelled of alcohol. A search of the man’s possessions yielded a woman’s purse, though at this time it is unknown how or why it was found with him. Police are currently investigating where the purse came from and its possible owner.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said crime in the State Street area is often motivated by addiction. He added though crime in the area is no new development, there is nothing to show crime is rising.
“[Davis] is one of several individuals who causes problems because of addiction or alcoholism,” Verveer said. “I’m relieved that [the girl] wasn’t physically hurt, though we don’t know the extent of her trauma. Most of all I’m glad [Davis] is off the street.”
MPD has requested Davis be placed on a State Street ban list. The district attorney’s office and the court commissioner are responsible for placing individuals on the list.
“We can ask as a part of their parole conditions that they be placed on a ban list,” DeSpain said. “It is another tool for us to use to remove problematic individuals from State Street.”
Madison Police Department officers also arrived at the 500 block of University Avenue early Monday morning after reports of fighting between multiple individuals. Martin Furseth, 22, and Jordon King, 22, were arrested on suspicion of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and battery.
According to MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain, two groups of men were arguing when two victims tried to walk away. They were chased down and punched by the suspects, one of the victims allegedly being choked before a bouncer from Wando’s intervened. The University of Wisconsin Police Department then arrived on the scene, followed shortly thereafter by MPD.
Neither suspects were Madison residents. Both were given breathalyzer tests and found to be intoxicated. Neither of the two victims, who are both from Madison, required medical attention, and it is unknown at this point whether any of the parties involved were UW students.
