Man Arrested in Bay County After 6-Month Sexual Battery On Minor Investigation

BAY COUNTY, FL - Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford announced today the arrest of a Chattanooga, Tennessee man on October 30, 2024, after a 6-month investigation. David Edward Grant is now in custody after BCSO investigators identified him as a suspect in a case involving sexual battery on a minor in Bay County.

In May of 2024, the Bay County Sheriff's Office responded to an address in Bay County on Alaska Circle in reference to a domestic call for service. Deputies discovered the 15-year-old child victim in this case had been communicating with an adult male using the social media platform Snapchat. Information was developed that the child and the adult male may have met in person and had sex after the man traveled to Bay County from out of state. The BCSO Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and initiated an intense and aggressive investigation.

The adult male was identified as David Grant, who was employed in the traveling commercial construction business. It was confirmed that Grant had taken the child to a local hotel where they were involved in sexual activity.

More than 10 search warrants and subpoenas were served and executed during this investigation. A large amount of evidence was collected against Grant. Finally on October 21, 2024, investigators were able to obtain multiple warrants for Grant related to his crimes.

On October 31, 2024, Grant was located at a hotel in Saraland, Alabama just outside of Mobile, where he was working. Grant was taken into custody and booked at the Mobile County Metro Jail. He was interviewed by BCSO investigators who obtained a full confession.

Grant currently awaits extradition back to Bay County where he will face charges of: Sexual Battery on a Person Older than 12 Years of Age, But Less Than 18 Years of Age With Special Conditions; Traveling to Meet a Minor for Sex; and The Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance.

Sheriff Tommy Ford reminds parents of the importance of monitoring children's activities when it comes to electronics and social media. Most online games, platforms, or applications have a chat feature which predators utilize to communicate with children or act as another child to build rapport with their intended victim. Sheriff Ford encourages parents to discuss with children the dangers of speaking with strangers online and giving out personal information to unknown parties.

Sheriff Ford would also like to thank the US Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force,  Saraland Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for their assistance in this case.