Oakdale Police detectives, along with members of the Stanislaus County SWAT Team, arrested Christopher Michael Munson, 40, of Salida on Thursday, Dec. 8, in connection with the sexual assault of an Oakdale girl that occurred last summer.

“This was an ongoing investigation that was initiated back in August when the assault was reported,” said Oakdale Police Officer Dan Taylor. “Detectives worked to develop not only an arrest warrant, but a search warrant.”

Officer Taylor said Munson, a registered sex offender, was known by the victim and victim’s family prior to the reported assault. Police declined to state the victim’s age other than being under 14 years old.

Police and the SWAT team went to Munson’s Green Knoll Road residence in Salida to serve the warrant around 8 a.m. Thursday. When Munson was spotted outside the home by officers, he attempted to flee the scene. Police sent a K-9 unit after Munson to assist in the apprehension and when he was taken into custody, Munson was found to be in possession of a handgun.

Munson was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail for several charges related to the sexual assault including rape and sexual assault to a child under 14 years of age and weapons charges including being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

“This was a successful arrest of a wanted individual,” Taylor said.

Officer Taylor said investigators have no additional reports involving additional victims related to Munson.

Stanislaus County Superior Court records show that in 2000, Munson pleaded guilty to a felony section of continuous sexual abuse to a child under 14 and in 2006 was guilty of failing to register as a sex offender.