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Posted on Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 5:59 a.m.

Number of tips in Ann Arbor attacks grows to 600

By Heidi Fenton

Ann Arbor police are now reviewing at least 600 tips related to a string of six attacks on women in the city this summer, Det. Sgt. Brian Jatczak said.

The attacks, including two rapes, were reported between July 15 and July 26.

So far, no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed.

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Police released the above wanted poster in connection with the sexual assaults.

Rich Kinsey, the coordinator for Crime Stoppers in Washtenaw County, said he has received at least 100 tips through the organization’s anonymous line.

Many of those he has received are duplicates of those given to city police, he said Tuesday, but new tips continue to come in.

Authorities have said one or two men are believed to be responsible for the attacks, each of which involved a young woman walking alone late at night or early in the morning. Two of the attacks occurred near the University of Michigan’s central campus.

A multi-jurisdictional work group has formed this summer to investigate. That group includes members of the Ann Arbor Police Department, University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police and the FBI.

Here’s a list of the attacks:

10:10 p.m. July 15 — A 21-year-old University of Michigan student was walking near Thompson and East Liberty streets when a man grabbed her around the neck. She resisted, broke free and was not injured. The attacker was described as white, 29 years of age, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 165 pounds, with a medium build.

11:11 p.m. July 15 — A man grabbed a 19-year-old Ypsilanti woman in the 400 block of North Division Street near Community High School and attempted to pull her into a secluded area, but she got away. The attacker was described as 20 to 30 years of age, 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 175 to 200 pounds and clean shaven. He had short, straight black hair and olive skin.

2 a.m. July 16 — A man grabbed a 22-year-old Ann Arbor woman from behind in the 900 block of Greenwood Avenue, lifted up her dress and fondled her before she broke free. The man was described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall with an olive complexion. He had no facial hair and was wearing a zipped-up black hooded sweatshirt and khaki cargo pants.

12:40 a.m. July 18 — An 18-year-old Ann Arbor woman was pulled into an alley and raped in the 700 block of South State Street near the University of Michigan. The attacker was described as white, 20 years of age, between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a green T-shirt and khaki cargo pants.

10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 18 — A man followed a 26-year-old Ypsilanti woman into an elevator in the Liberty Square parking structure and raped her. The attacker was described as white, 26 years of age, 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with short, dark and straight hair, police said.

11:30 p.m. July 26—A 21-year-old University of Michigan student retrieved something from her car in a parking lot in the 700 block of South State Street when she was grabbed from behind and fondled by a man, before breaking free, police said.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in any of the attacks. Jatczak encourages anyone with information to call police. People can call the Ann Arbor Police Department's tip line at (734) 794-6939 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) SPEAK UP.

Heidi Fenton covers police and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heidifenton@annarbor.com or 734-623-4673. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.

Comments

texmex

Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 10:32 a.m.

It was posted Sat jul 2, 2011 2:39 pm by Lee Higgins ,There was a man held on $60,000 bond that is an illegal immigrant that was accused of these crimes,This man was not the person doing these crimes ,the attacker is still out there.he was fasely accused .

anti-thug

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.

yes 600 tip leading no wear i mean people are disillusion

lynel

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.

Or $25,000, depending on the bank.

jtwilkins

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.

Reward for serial rapist $1,000 Reward for robber of one bank $5,000

CincoDeMayo

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 4:56 p.m.

I don't even notice the ads. At all. But I do have trouble telling what is a story with some "meat" and what is just a rehash, without having to click onto the article.

belboz

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.

Story aside,.... I'm getting a bit tired of trying to figure out what is News and what is an Ad on the homepage of AnnArbor.com. Any more ads and there will be no more room for stories. .... I hope the negativity from my little complaint is offset by the fact that I was nice and didn't make the obvious joke that having no more room for AnnArbor.com stories could be a good thing. If I did, then I'd agree, I'm just a whiner....

racerx

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.

Just over a week or so, the Detroit Free Press had a story saying that the tips had virtually dried up and that the city wasn't receiving as many tips as before. Who's right? Are these 600 tips the same amount that had come in when the crimes first began? This will be a sore spot for the AAPD if they can't solve this case. Same with the suspected arson's that plagued the city a year ago. I don't believe that anyone was caught for those crimes either. And yet, hate to say it, the mayor feels comfortable that police and fire levels are adequate, but feels there's not enough funding for public art. Time to carry both a concealed weapon and a fire extinguisher!

racerx

Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.

@Jack-I'm well aware that the FBI is involved, along with UMPS, St. of Michigan Police, and probably Washtenaw County. However, you've answered my basic complaint, "...attackers don't attck where there are police around...they are not going to attack where they can be seen..." Ask yourself, what are the staffing levels? How many patrol officers are on duty during the period that these crimes are taking place? Where are the patrols in relation to where the crimes are occurring? If patrols are catching speeders on S. Main street and sitting "idling" then one can question how resources are used. One can also suggest that if there are a certain amount of patrols on duty one should ask if there are enough. So, yes. I'm quite concern how police resources are utilized and where.

Jack

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.

You seem to forget that the FBI is also active on this case. Are they too rendered incompetent due to staffing levels that don't please you? I, for one, am getting really tired of some commenters relating every single thing that happens in the city to police and fire levels. Attackers don't attack where there are police around and even with excessively high staffing, they are not going to attack where they can be seen. Doh.

Terri

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.

Art Fair's a theory--the dates also closely match a bunch of summer programs at U-M.

John A2

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 1:12 p.m.

I believe he/they came in with the Art Fair, and now have moved on. The Fair always brings in some rift raft, whether or not they artisans or not. I believe they are in a different town at some other large event. It would be best to look into this. The perp, in my opinion takes advantage of the heavy load on city security, and high masses of people out at night.

nixon41

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 12:41 p.m.

Why don't you get a degree in criminal Justice & then you'll know.

NewStart

Wed, Aug 17, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.

"And the point of this Story is" to keep public interest alive and to catch this predator. Nothing lame about it.