3 area men arrested in joint police pedophile operation
Three local men were among those arrested last week by Taylor police during an undercover operation targeting child sexual predators.
Among the 14 men arrested following the year-long investigation were Johnathan Lee McKissack, 30, of Romulus; Michael Joseph Miller, 33, of Westland and Jeffrey Brian Hellems, 38, of Canton Township.
The three men are awaiting court hearings on the charges. Police said the 14 suspects thought they were chatting with girls as young as 13 on dating apps and some gaming platforms used to meet for sex. Some of the suspects brought weapons, sex toys and even their own children to a location designated as a meeting place for the minor girls an investigator said. Three of the men arrested have already entered guilty pleas with the court including charges of child sexually abusive commercial activity (attempt), accosting a child for immoral purposes and computer/internet communicating with another to commit a crime. The remaining 11 suspects, including the three local men, are awaiting court hearings, according to police.
Taylor Police Chief John Blair said the success of the undercover operation was enhanced using advanced technology, including Brinc drones, Flock Safety systems, Axon technology, and StarChase. These tools were instrumental in helping investigators safely identify, monitor, and apprehend suspects while maintaining officer and community safety, the chief said.
“Technology plays a critical role in modern policing, especially when it comes to protecting our most vulnerable citizens—our children,” said Blair, in a statement. “By combining cutting-edge tools like drones and license plate recognition with skilled investigative work and strong partnerships with our federal and regional task force partners, we are able to act quickly and effectively to bring these offenders to justice.”
Also involved in the investigation and arrests were Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Secret Service, the Metro Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
“These arrests reflect our department’s ongoing commitment to protecting children and holding accountable those who seek to exploit them,” Blair added. “We will continue leveraging technology, training, and collaboration to keep Taylor and surrounding communities safe.”
