Man arrested for taking teen out of state

— A Garfield man is in the Benton County Jail after leaving a state three times with a teenage girl.

Michael Eric Andreasen, 44, was arrested March 25, in Indiana. A Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputy went there and returned Thursday, April 6, with Andreasen.

Kenneth Paul, an investigator with the Sheriff’s Office, said he first began investigating the case in September when Andreasen first left the state with the Arkansas girl. The girl was returned.

“Andreasen left twice more with her,” Paul said.

The last time was the second or third week in March when the girl was in Texas, according to Paul.

Paul said he obtained a warrant for Andreasen’s arrest and referred the case to Indiana authorities.

Andreasen works hauling trailer campers across the country for an Indiana business, Paul said.

Paul said Indiana State Police arrested Andreasen at the company.

“She was in the truck with him,” Paul said of the girl.

Benton County investigators served a search warrant at Andreasen’s home and found suspected child pornography on a computer, cellphone and computer thumb drive, according to Paul.

Andreasen was arrested on a state charge of distributing, possession of or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class B felony.

Andreasen is being held in the Benton County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

Paul said the teen’s mother traveled to Indiana to pick her up.

Community, Pages 6 on 04/13/2011