Galveston Police Credit One Officer with Speedy Recovery of Kidnapped 12-Year-Old Girl
A dramatic rescue operation in Galveston, Texas, has been credited to the persistence and professionalism of a single police officer. On January 30, 911 calls flooded in after a 12-year-old girl went missing while walking her dog. The child's phone, which had been tracked by law enforcement, led investigators to the Galveston Beach Hotel West.
Officer Joshua Nino was one of the first officers on the scene and quickly sprang into action. When hotel staff informed him that they didn't have access to the security cameras, Nino made a crucial decision - he switched from asking politely to insisting that they call someone right away. "I didn't really give them an option," Nino recounted in a statement. "We need to call someone right now, we need to wake them up, get them down here, because we are watching the cameras."
Nino's persistence paid off when he was finally able to access the video footage and identified the suspect as Graham Michael Dunn, who had met the girl on social media before allegedly kidnapping her. Once inside the hotel room, Nino used verbal commands and then forcibly opened the door after receiving no response. Dunn was subsequently arrested, and a bystander's video captured his arrest.
The priority shifted immediately to the safety of the 12-year-old victim, who was rushed to the hospital with the support of her loved ones. In court records, it is alleged that Dunn subjected the girl to various forms of abuse, including giving her pills and touching her inappropriately. The investigation has also revealed a long history of similar crimes against both adults and children committed by Dunn in multiple states.
Dunn now faces new felony charges in Galveston, with investigators requesting no bond to ensure that the court process can proceed without interruption. As for Officer Nino's role in the rescue, he remains humble but proud of his contribution to bringing a potentially devastating situation to an end. "There are certain things you'll remember," he reflected. "This is one of those things I'll remember for the rest of my career."
A dramatic rescue operation in Galveston, Texas, has been credited to the persistence and professionalism of a single police officer. On January 30, 911 calls flooded in after a 12-year-old girl went missing while walking her dog. The child's phone, which had been tracked by law enforcement, led investigators to the Galveston Beach Hotel West.
Officer Joshua Nino was one of the first officers on the scene and quickly sprang into action. When hotel staff informed him that they didn't have access to the security cameras, Nino made a crucial decision - he switched from asking politely to insisting that they call someone right away. "I didn't really give them an option," Nino recounted in a statement. "We need to call someone right now, we need to wake them up, get them down here, because we are watching the cameras."
Nino's persistence paid off when he was finally able to access the video footage and identified the suspect as Graham Michael Dunn, who had met the girl on social media before allegedly kidnapping her. Once inside the hotel room, Nino used verbal commands and then forcibly opened the door after receiving no response. Dunn was subsequently arrested, and a bystander's video captured his arrest.
The priority shifted immediately to the safety of the 12-year-old victim, who was rushed to the hospital with the support of her loved ones. In court records, it is alleged that Dunn subjected the girl to various forms of abuse, including giving her pills and touching her inappropriately. The investigation has also revealed a long history of similar crimes against both adults and children committed by Dunn in multiple states.
Dunn now faces new felony charges in Galveston, with investigators requesting no bond to ensure that the court process can proceed without interruption. As for Officer Nino's role in the rescue, he remains humble but proud of his contribution to bringing a potentially devastating situation to an end. "There are certain things you'll remember," he reflected. "This is one of those things I'll remember for the rest of my career."