The Wabasha Police Department is committed to protecting and serving our community with integrity, professionalism, and compassion. Protecting children is among the highest priorities of the Wabasha Police Department. We are committed to investigating crimes against children, supporting victims and their families, preventing exploitation and abuse, and ensuring that every child in our community has the opportunity to grow up safe, secure, and free from harm. We are committed to safeguarding children, protecting the vulnerable, supporting victims, and holding offenders accountable.
The Wabasha Police Department would like to inform the public of the arrest of Michael James Gonzalez of Murrieta, California, on charges of two counts of Soliciting a Child or Person Believed to be a Child Through Electronic Communication to Engage in Sexual Conduct and eleven counts of Use of a Minor in a Sexual Performance/Pornographic Work involving a child under the age of 14.
This investigation began in October 2025 when Investigator Metcalf of the Wabasha Police Department received information from an investigator with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office in California. Through a thorough investigation, a victim was identified, and evidence was developed indicating that Gonzalez had solicited a local juvenile.
Based on information developed by Investigator Metcalf and investigators from Humboldt County, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in Murrieta, California, on May 29, 2026. Gonzalez was taken into custody and is currently being held pending extradition to Minnesota to answer for the charges filed against him.
This case highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies across the United States. The successful identification of victims and apprehension of offenders often depends on strong partnerships and the sharing of information between agencies, regardless of geographic boundaries.
The Wabasha Police Department would like to thank the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and collaboration throughout this investigation.
As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Additional information may be released as the case progresses through the court system.
Investigator Dan Metcalf
