Ann Arbor DDA director says officials are increasing patrols in parking structures after rape report
Related story: Woman reports rape in downtown Ann Arbor parking structure elevator
The report of a sexual assault at the Liberty Square parking structure in downtown Ann Arbor has officials taking actions to prevent another attack.
Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said the DDA and Republic Parking plan to post a police sketch of the suspect at all downtown parking garages. Additionally, she said, Republic Parking plans to increase the frequency of its foot and vehicle patrols of downtown parking structures.
Susan Pollay
Ann Arbor police said they are now investigating five recent attacks on women walking alone in and around downtown Ann Arbor since last Friday.
A fifth victim came forward Thursday, reporting that a man followed her into an elevator at the Liberty Square parking structure between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Monday and sexually assaulted her, police said.
The DDA pays Republic Parking a management fee of about $200,000 a year, in addition to operating costs, to operate the city's downtown public parking system.
Pollay said Republic Parking regularly sends its management to sweep through the parking garages, both day and night, and those efforts will be ramped up.
"They have management people who walk through and sweep through several times a day," she said. "Certainly management would have had a supervisor in that garage that evening, going through checking on things. Unfortunately, they weren't there at the time this happened."
When contacted by AnnArbor.com earlier today, a representative of Republic Parking said she hadn't heard about the assault but couldn't comment further.
Despite the recent string of attacks, Pollay said monthly statistics the DDA receives from the police department show crime downtown actually is down from last year. AnnArbor.com has requested copies of those reports and will publish those statistics when available.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Basic Bob
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 3:46 a.m.
What makes downtown more safe? Discouraging potential rapists from acting, or hassling "aggressive" panhandlers? Downtown visitors and the DDA pushed to dedicate more police officers to non-crimes. They should be ashamed, but not half as much as the elected city government and police department.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 11:01 a.m.
At the beginning of the city council meeting where the debate over the further drastic cuts to the number of police and firefighters were later debated, during the public comment period, I noted various reasons why the cuts were unwise, including the low police presence downtown and the fact that there are (last time I checked) ten level 4 (the most (dangerous kind) registered sex offenders listed officially at the homeless shelter. This is just an example as to why we need downtown beat cops (all fired all fired a few years ago in an earlier unwise layoff). To date no one from the administration has addressed this issue publicly. The mayor and city council are playing with fire, toying with lives and ignoring the repeated warnings of downtown residents regarding the reality of the environment we witness downtown on a daily basis.
Tom Todd
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 6:25 a.m.
completely awful news. Time to welcome skateboarders back to ann arbor to help keep an eye out.
rsa221
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.
That structure feels especially vulnerable on the north side. There really isn't a predictably steady stream of foot traffic there. I'd feel safer personally if key areas like the entrances and elevators were under video survellience. Even if the footage was unmonitored, it could help police after the fact.
WhyCan'tWeBeFriends
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 5:15 a.m.
is this the first time this alleged crime has been reported? Was it in the same parking structure or are the five incidents in different structures? Really, does it take 5 incidents before the public gets to know there is a problem? This latest report is about a woman in a structure at a reasonable time of night - not that any time of night is a green light for an assault to be OK.
Long Time No See
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 3:04 a.m.
Hey Susan, maybe the DDA should put up some twinkly holiday lights in the parking structures. Based on your extensive twinkly holiday light expertise, I'm sure you know that twinkly holiday lights can solve any problem.
say it plain
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 3:32 a.m.
LOL...
Goofus
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 12:52 a.m.
Dear DDA, I think the solution to this problem would be surface lots, maybe one near the AADL library, where there's lights and somewhere to run to, and people walking around... oh wait. nevermind.
JPLewis
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.
In related news; Farmer announces he is planning to close barn door after his cows escaped.
Tony Livingston
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 9:25 p.m.
When getting into an elevator, stand in front of the control panel. That way, if someone follows you in, you have a better chance of controlling the door.
Brad
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 8:14 p.m.
And we're hearing this from the DDA why? We don't have any *elected* officials that might think this is something that just may warrant their involvement and comment? Mr. Mayor? Councilpeople??
bob elton
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 8:06 p.m.
The police can certainly patrol parking structures, as they give out tickets inside the structures. Bob Elton
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
I wasn't aware that the AAPD worked for the DDA. Time to disband the DDA, that unelected and unaccountable body. Good Night and Good Luck
aaparent
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 7:31 p.m.
Are there security cameras in the elevators or in this parking structure or the other Republic lots? I have not noticed that the structures or the lots are frequently monitored. I have seen trucks drive up for occasional collection of coins or maintenance, but have not seen a lot of security patrols at these private lots. Also, a friend told me that the police cannot patrol the private lots unless there is an actual crime reported. Is that correct? This friend said she called the police about a suspicious incident at the 4th and William surface lot involving panhandling at the check out station while customers had their wallets out to pay the ticket, but it was not a crime and nothing happened other than people feeling intimidated. She was told that since it is a private property, police are not patrolling it and that nothing could be done and to call Republic.
Cash
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
Well Ms Pollay is a good person, but this isn't really her job, it would seem. I don't understand value in interviewing her for this issue. Where is Chief Jones?
ToddGack
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
Chief Jones is there in body
cette
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 7:09 p.m.
Why is the DDA in charge of the rapist search? Seriously, where the police dept on this. Oh Mayor, where art thou in this crisis?
bunnyabbot
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
from the article: Despite the recent string of attacks, Pollay said monthly statistics the DDA receives from the police department show crime downtown actually is down from last year. Granted the recent attacks might not yet be plugged into a monthly spread sheet but still, tell me just what is an accpetable statistic for rape? and really Pollay, who cares if there are fewer larcenies to vehicles downtown if someone is assaulted.
aes
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 6:36 p.m.
"Crime is down" until it happens to you or a loved one. What's the expression? "Lies, damned lies, and statistics!"