Updates from press conference on assaults against women in Ann Arbor

Posted on Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 10:59 a.m.

Updates from press conference on assaults against women in Ann Arbor

By Heidi Fenton

Lt. Robert Neumann, left, from the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, talks along side Police Chief Barnett Jones, center, and John Broad, president of Crime Stoppers of Michigan, during a press conference at the Ann Arbor Justice Center.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Ann Arbor police are releasing a new composite sketch of a suspect and other information during an 11 a.m. press conference called to address the recent series of assaults against women in the area around downtown and the University of Michigan campus. The press conference is taking place at the Ann Arbor Justice Center. Here are live updates:

Police released a second composite sketch of a suspect today, which appears on the right, next to the composite sketch released last week.

11:02 a.m. News crews are gathering in the Justice Center and the conference should begin shortly. Crime Stoppers has distributed a list of three things to watch out for as the investigation continues:

1. Inappropriate sexual attention
2. Window peepers
3. A new person in the neighborhood that fits the description police have released in a previous composite sketch.

11:05 a.m. Police Chief Barnett Jones is taking the stand. "I'm about to begin a conversation I believe no law enforcement officer would ever want to give to his community. We have a predator or predators operating in our community."

11:07 a.m. Jones addressing the list of safety tips: "Collectively over the 6 incidents we have deemed these points to be the ones that have a similar nature as to the suspect."

11:12 a.m. A second composite sketch has been released.

Jones: We believe it could be one person or two. Why narrow the focus with one composite when we are getting such a wide variety of information?

RELATED COVERAGE

More stories on recent attacks on women in Ann Arbor:

11:14 a.m. Jones on the investigation and suspect: "This is not by accident, this is on purpose. He is victimizing people in my community. It is a shame, it is upsetting, but he brought this on himself."

11:16 a.m. John Broad, president of Crime Stoppers of Michigan, has taken the stand.

Broad said the suspect may not necessarily be a window peeper, but it's something to look out for. There is an increased reward amount today, he said.

"If we receive a tip that results in an arrest by midnight tonight, the total reward will be $2,000."

11:19 a.m. Lt. Robert Neumann from the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety is now speaking. The university is doing all it can to assist the city in the investigation, he said, including rearranging work schedules, minimizing vacations within the public safety department.

11:23 a.m. Neumann: Walk with a trusted friend whenever possible, stay in well-lit areas. Newman is encouraging people to keep looking around and focus on surroundings at night rather than talking/texting on a phone.

11:24 a.m. AAPD Chief Jones: "It is my hope the next time we have a press conference, we will be announcing we have a suspect in custody."

11:25 a.m. The conference has ended.

Comments

HONDO

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 8:07 p.m.

This is towards Major, me and my GSP Hondo have been walking around ever since every other night. You should join us. At least it gives a presence that Ann Arbor isnt up for outsiders to come into our city and do any sort of crime!

trs80

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.

Damn, that comment was removed quickly. haha So to be more PC this time around. I hope they catch the suspect before he finds another victim.

John A2

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.

The U and local police should hand out pepper spray. The police should also have a female officer out walking around to attract the rapist. That would be comical to hear about the rapist tried to rape a cop. But that would give him positive attention in prison. We can't have that now can we. LOL, Seriously the young women who are being targeted are alone at night. They should at least have a can of mace or pepper spray in their hands and ready to use it. This will give them some feeling of protection, and can parallelize the perpetrator till the cops arrive. Just keep spraying the spray into their face till the police relieve you. Maybe the police can take all the young white guys in and have them blood tested like they did with the last serial rapist. They gathered all the black guys who fit the profile and blood tested them.

Gramma

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.

I know lots of white folks with black hair and eyebrows.

EyeHeartA2

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:59 p.m.

"Maybe the police can take all the young white guys in and have them blood tested like they did with the last serial rapist." As I said to the last race baiter: Yep, do the testing. Then we can see if they are still crying about it 15 years later.

djm12652

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.

Mace is illegal to carry by citizens, and pepper spray can be effective somewhat as long as the "sprayer" has good aim, no wind for blowback and the perp isn't high on meth...they just keep going...IMO, attention to one's own surroundings is the priority...safety in numbers ladies!

trs80

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.

From the released composites the suspect is not Caucasian. Most "white" folk do not have black hair and eyebrows. Quit with your racist rant.

bigblue

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.

i wonder if random whites will be forced to provide DNA samples like some black men had to when ann arbor had a serial rapist in the early 90's?

redwingshero

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.

I was in 5th grade @ Eberwhite when that was going on. I remember our DARE officer in a 500m sprint to the Woods one afternoon when a women was attacked in there. It was crazy Never seens a guy run the fast before

EyeHeartA2

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.

Sure, bring it on. Then we can see if random whites are still crying about it 15 years later.

bigblue

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.

i don't know the answer to that question. But the guy 60 minutes did their story on when he had to sue to get his DNA back didn't come as a criminal to me. But like i said i don't know the criminal backgrounds of the sample providers.

djm12652

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.

Weren't the guys pulled in for DNA testing back then all known to the criminal system and were not "random"?

FreedomOfSpeech

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:05 p.m.

Is it just me or does the new composite sketch seem to show a Hispanic male? Is this the/a new conclusion of the police investigation as well? Is anyone else bothered by the fact the perp in the #6 attack felt comfortable enough to do this practically in the same spot as an earlier attack? Where's the foot & bike patrols guys? I know the offices and cars have that nice AC but really are we going to wait until this creep kills someone so Fed $$$ & assistance can be sought?

Gramma

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 5:29 p.m.

Is this an effort to stimulate racial/ethnic tensions? or an assumption that white men don't commit crimes. Either way, I think it is highly inappropriate.

FreedomOfSpeech

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.

Hence the question "Where" !

djm12652

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:17 p.m.

@Freedom...foot and bike patrols? Have you been out of town for awhile? They were pulled a couple of years ago....haven't had beat cops or bike cops downtown unless there is an event happening. I can assure you that quite a few of us downtown residents, business owners, and employees miss these guys a great deal.

redwingshero

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.

Should we go crazy like England and have camera's everywhere?

Homeland Conspiracy

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.

Who will be watching the watchers. It's not about "nothing to hide" it's about losing our privacy & the whole big brother 1984 thing. Open this can of worms & we'll have cams in our homes next.

redwingshero

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 5:07 p.m.

Same with me, but if we have that many cameras, can we at least get MI6 as well?

wacky_walrus

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:17 p.m.

Yes. I am not a criminal and have nothing to hide.

amlive

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4 p.m.

The men and women of the AAPD are of course doing everything they can with what they have, but with what I understand to the THE lowest number of officers per capita in the entire state, I don't know how much we can expect to be able to count on them for our protection. We are now set up so that one crisis can stretch our resources pretty thin. Let's hope to God that the city never has to face two or three major issues at the same time. Perhaps we should ask citizens to volunteer for street crime patrol to help. Anyone have the Michigan Militia's number? Maybe if we ask pretty please?

amlive

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.

I wouldn't say it would accomplish nothing. I don't want a bunch of armed vigilantes posted throughout our city any more than you. It may stand a chance of effectively getting a point across though, that we are not satisfied with the service the city is providing, and if they won't provide suitable protection to the public then we may have to seek other options. It might tell the numbskulls at the city who choose to spend money on extravagant and unnecessary projects that their priorities do not match those of the residents. It just might make it clear enough in a way they would rather not hear, that if the city can't fill needs so basic as security, then we'll have to find a way to take care of it ourselves. Of course it'll never happen anyway, but one can dream.

Gramma

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 5:24 p.m.

Calling out vigilantes will accomplish nothing.

redwingshero

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 5:10 p.m.

I truly hope Ann Arbor doesn't get anywhere near to Flint. With no disrespect to our boys/girls over there, Flint is closer to Falujah than Ann Arbor is to Flint.

amlive

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.

redwing - I know we don't have crime levels anywhere near Flint's, but I believe we are the only city in the state to have LESS officers than they do. Give it time. I'm sure we'll start catching up on crime levels.

redwingshero

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 4:02 p.m.

At least A2 isn't like Flint. 1.2 officers per 1,000 residents.

racerx

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.

Who is Bob Newman from UMPS and what is his position? This isn't clear. Also isn't clear is the issue of jurisdiction. Who is taking the lead? If most of the crimes are occurring on campus, is UMPS taking the lead, or AAPD? Same as with traffic violations if it occurs on campus, UMPS gets a cut of the ticket revenue but not the city. Just wondering, since UMPS only has about 2-4 person patrol units on duty during these hours. Does AAPD have any more? What are or will be the staffing levels? And, are they focused on the campus area? Were questions asked at this presser? Basically there wasn't much information than the standard "lets put something out there" message. Essentially women are left on their own until we catch the person or persons.

vitaltoofor

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.

It's hard to believe that the parking lots where a couple of the assaults were to have taken place don't have surveillance cameras! Every corner store/liquor store in the county has cameras...why don't our downtown parking lots? Rewind the tapes and find the perp. Those composite sketchs are a joke. AAPD get real footage of the guy to the public. Where are the detectives? Oh that's right...they've been cut by the Great Gov. Synder!

racerx

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.

@vitaltoofor-camera in parking lots are much different than in liquor stores. Catching a thief who has stolen goods of a value is much different than the rare event of a car being broken into. Snyder has nothing to do with the budget cuts in A2. This is squarely on your local government who makes these type of budget issues.

redwingshero

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 3:45 p.m.

Come on' AAPD. Show us some skill and nail the dirtbag.

Major

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.

Reward money??!!! Time to walk the dog downtown.....

HONDO

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.

hey Major, You should come and join me and my gsd hondo! we walk downtown almost everyother night.