Ann Arbor police receive almost 500 tips in investigation into 6 attacks on women
Ann Arbor police have received almost 500 tips as they work with other law enforcement agencies to investigate 6 attacks on women in the city, including two rapes, between July 15 and July 26, Det. Sgt. Brian Jatczak said.
So far, no arrests have been made and no charges have been filed, Jatczak said this afternoon.
In each case, young women walking alone were targeted late at night or early in the morning. Two attacks occurred near the University of Michigan.
Police have said one or two men are believed to be responsible and announced last week that a multi-jurisdictional work group had been organized to investigate. It comprises the Ann Arbor Police Department, University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police and 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.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
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.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Annie
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
Did any of the raped women go to the hospital and get checked out, I wonder? If so, is there DNA from sperm or blood or SOMETHING?The DNA would sure help out a lot. Also, a lot of people can say that "this" or "that" happened, but it doesn't mean it actually did. Wow, that makes me sound really insensitive, doesn't it?
Wolf's Bane
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
I thought it was interesting (and timely) that NY City is currently dealing with similar attacks: See link: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/nyregion/suspect-in-upper-east-side-sexual-attacks-is-sought-as-offenses-escalate.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper" rel='nofollow'>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/nyregion/suspect-in-upper-east-side-sexual-attacks-is-sought-as-offenses-escalate.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper</a> They even have a picture of the attacker!
roadsidedinerlover
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 6:32 a.m.
I won't be parking in any of the parking garages anymore. I hope the owners read this comment and get some security guards and cameras in the elevators. The last time I used the Liberty Square garage, there was a homeless man sleeping by the exit. I really did not feel safe after seeing him. These rapes will affect businesses in Ann Arbor. I won't be going to AA much now! I hope they catch this monster soon!
djm12652
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 8:33 p.m.
You mean the City of Ann Arbor who is the owner of all the parking structures.
Urban Sombrero
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 12:53 a.m.
I really hope either the police or the FBI (or both) can catch this guy before anyone else is violated.
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 : 3:55 a.m.
It's totally killing me that I can't see what the reply to this comment was. Thank you, AnnArbor.com for "protecting" me from it! Er, or.....something like that.
alan
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
@Roy- According to DOJ statistics less than 1/3 of reported rapes result in arrest and less than half of those result in conviction so the odds that any police dept. can successfully "solve" this crime is pretty slim without evidence to lead them somewhere. Unless the rapist drops his wallet or the victim passes him on the street and notices him it is very difficult to catch him. I wouldn't blame AAPD for this.
John A2
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
They can round up all citizens who fit the profile and give them all blood tests. lol That will cost some money. The students are set to arrive back this month and when they do there will be a lot more of the same profilers. They have one or two weeks to get the guy, and I believe that the dude may have cooled out until there's a lot more students in town to choose from. GOOD LUCK A2PD and all the other agencies involved. Maybe with all the new electronics available that they can come up with a GPS emergency alert button for who ever needs one, because guys get rapped and victimized too.
djm12652
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
@racerx...the samples tkaen back then were not from "random" males matching the description of the suspect, but rather from those already "known" in the judicial system with focus on the SO registry...
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 5 p.m.
Students at UM get emailed regularly with crime notifications. These events were included in recent emails.
Mick52
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.
John A2 you might like the book, The Blooding, by Joseph Wambaugh, a true story. That was done in England and worked when the suspect asked a friend to go in for his test. I believe it was the first use of DNA evidence used to solve a crime. <a href="http://www.josephwambaugh.net/html/the_blooding.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.josephwambaugh.net/html/the_blooding.html</a>
racerx
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 2 p.m.
@JohnA2- the AAPD did this back in the 80's when a description of a rapist was African American and the AAPD requested and got, DNA samples of random men who fit the description. Good luck with this occurring now, especially since the perp isn't African American.
Mariella
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 2:06 a.m.
@thecompound: I believe the assaults are being addressed at Orientation, which all new students attend.
thecompound
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
Does anyone know if UM is sending out warning information to incoming students for their safety or will they just have to hear about it on the street?
thecompound
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
Its too bad there is not some kind of technology where the sketch could be matched with facebook facial pictures and then narrowed down by area just to some jumping off points. People post so much on line nowadays.
Mick52
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
I think you watch too much CSI, NCIS... Maybe it can be done, but driver license photos would work better because they are straight on like the composites. Problem may be the 100s of thousands of matches.
thecompound
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 10:32 p.m.
Thanks, did not know that. It seems there is a lot of shadiness with the third party apps, it's too bad facebook can't be used as a useful investigative tool.
linuxtuxguy
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 8:50 p.m.
You need to re-read the terms of service on facebook. The police could be sued if they did that.
Roy Munson
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
Don't get your hopes up that the AAPD can successfully investigate this, or really anything else. Unless they stumble into this person(s) and catch them red handed (by accident), I have no faith that anything will happen.
Mick52
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.
The FBI's assistance will not enhance the success of the investigation other than a few more feet on the ground. Unfortunately often you have to just wait and hope for the stumble Roy mentions. I was told that once by an FBI agent when I asked about how they pursue unknown bank robbers. You just wait until you get "lucky" with an officer nearby or spotting the suspect leaving based on descriptions reported, or someone who knows the suspect reporting it. If there is DNA evidence perhaps later, and it could be years, there can be a match if the suspect get caught with a felony in the future. Real life is not like CSI, NCIS, Law and Order, etc. A2PD is an excellent police department and they will do as much as can be done to investigate these crimes.
West of Main
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.
The FBI is assisting with the investigation.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 6:44 p.m.
I wonder how many of those 500 "tips" are calls to say "I know this guy who looks like one of those pictures"?
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 : 4:13 p.m.
at the point in time I wrote it, the only thing in the exchange you were on record for was not carrying whether 499 innocent people were investigated. I understand that is potentially part of the process, a part I choose to label "collateral damage". I see it as unfortunate on several levels treating an innocent person as a suspect is unfortunate not having really solid leads to solve the crime is unfortunate a police officer spending valuable time on a false lead is both unavoidable and unfortunate at the same time. Those were my concerns.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 : 12:34 p.m.
"I didn't say nor imply that." Really, what does: "All 4 of us in here want the right guy caught. Two of us, myself and Atticus, are on record as wanting the right guy caught quickly with minimal "collateral damage"." Imply then, exactly? Do tell.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
"Yeah, because I'm on record as wanting the wrong guy caught in the longest time with the most collatoral damage." I didn't say nor imply that. But i would suggest wnat the right guy caught in the shortest time and you don't care about "collatoral damage" . That woul be the part where you said.. "I don't have a huge problem with investigating 499 innocent people". My original question was merely to hope/wish on several levels that these tips are more than just look alike tips.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 4:59 p.m.
@Craig; Yeah, because I'm on record as wanting the wrong guy caught in the longest time with the most collatoral damage. How about this? At least one of us is realistic enough to know that rapists don't walk around with signs on their back and it may require some actual work to round the guy up. Including some dead ends and checking out more than just one person.
Mick52
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 3:57 p.m.
Yes it is a good tip and what you want. If the person taking tip knows what s/he is doing, they will ask questions about the person's behavior too. The police may not have to check each person, they could look at driver license photos for resemblance characteristics and run criminal history checks to see if any have prior offenses. With this type of crime, you want everything you can get.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
All 4 of us in here want the right guy caught. Two of us, myself and Atticus, are on record as wanting the right guy caught quickly with minimal "collateral damage".
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.
I don't have a huge problem with investigating 499 innocent people. Actually, if you look back at our last two famous serial killers, both were contacted by the police prior to them becoming a prime suspect. As Thomas Edison said: Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward....
West of Main
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 9:33 p.m.
Maybe if you were more coherent then we'd have grasped your point.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
West of Main, I honestly don't think you grasp either of our points.
West of Main
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.
Excuse me for thinking that catching this guy outweighs the risk of potentially inconveniencing the police department.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.
I believe we were typing at the same time there Atticus with the same concern
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.
The thing is while their is nothing inherently wrong its not hardly much of a "tip". I hope a "I know this guy who looks like one of those pictures" tips finds the right guy without making too many suspects out of innocent people.
Atticus F.
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
The thing that is wrong with that, is that it diverts police recources to investigating 499 inocent people.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
what makes you assume I thought there was "something wrong" with that? Why would you assume something I didn't say?
West of Main
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
And what's wrong with that?