Ann Arbor woman reports New Year's Day sexual assault
A 27-year-old Ann Arbor woman reported waking up to an unknown man allegedly having sex with her while another man watched in a Pittsfield Township apartment on New Year’s Day, according to police.
Pittsfield Township Deputy Police Chief Gordy Schick said the woman went to Millennium Club in Ann Arbor with friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve and reported waking up in the apartment in the 2600 block of Gross Road, which was not where she lived.
The woman told police she called friends to pick her up, and she was taken to a local hospital. Police were dispatched at about 7:35 a.m. Sunday.
Pittsfield Township police prepared a search warrant and found both of the men at the apartment later on Sunday, Schick said.
Police searched the apartment, in the Town and Country Apartments, for evidence and arrested the two men, who were then lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail, Schick said.
The two men, identified as a 35-year-old Pittsfield Township man and a 37-year-old Pittsfield Township man, did not cooperate with police, and Schick said they were released.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office is deciding whether to press charges against the suspects.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Tony Dearing
Thu, Jan 5, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.
Commenting on this story has been closed because of the high number of comments violating our conversation guidelines.
Enso
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.
To some of the commentors: I'm not sure how drinking too much (if this is what happened and she wasn't drugged) on a night devoted to drinking too much (new year's eve) entitles a woman to be the victim of a sex-crime.
RuralMom
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 9:33 p.m.
Never ever said she did, what I said was I take my personal safety into consideration first. I have taught my young adult children to do the same. Sometimes just being out in the party atmosphere, I get the opportunity to specifically watch bad situations unfold that are totally preventable by addressing your own safety ahead of time.
Fat Bill
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
I understand where "Justmyopinion" is coming from; unconscious or impaired individuals cannot really give consent. I would think that a reasonable person in this day and age would assume "No" and "Yes" would have to be explicit.
milanmadman
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.
I guess most of you folks have never drank so much that you woke up in a strange place?
RuralMom
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 8:55 p.m.
Nope surely haven't, I've had a lot of fun in this life time but I never publicly got so blasted that I woke up in a strangers home or neglected my personal safety - that would be addressed ahead of time. If you are gonna get blitzed like that, better to be at your own home!
ranger007
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:24 p.m.
Gross rd is in dexter and "town & county(probably country )apartments ".. is on carpenter rd in Pittsfield township ....nice reporting
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
That was a typo, it is Town and Country.
Barb
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
Check the map closer.
actionjackson
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Gross Rd. is where the two big Lion statues sit right on the N. side of Packard. The freeway goes right over the top and they had to tear down the houses on the E. side for the US23 overpass in the 50's.
Jeff Renner
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
I've commented on this before on other stories - I think you inappropriately the word "allegedly." You wrote, "Ann Arbor woman reported waking up to an unknown man allegedly having sex with her ..." Surely she did not say to the police, "the man was allegedly having sex with me," did she? The use of the word "reported" implies an allegation.
treetowncartel
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.
You are right, it should be Ann Arbor woman alleges
HardWorker
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
Police should have applied a toxicology test as well. That would provide key information on how things "just happen" when waking up. Disclaimer to AnnArbor.com: This is neither speculation nor blaming the victim. Please exercise reason when "moderating".
Robert Granville
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7 p.m.
Sounds like we're missing something in the story. Gotta agree with the most popular comment. Innocent until proven guilty.
JustMyOpinion
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
It's impossible for anyone here to know what happened. It is dismaying, however, to see how many here have overtones of blame for the woman who reported or are fairly sure the men are completely innocent. It always intrigues me that so many are quick to split a hair in such matters and stand for something not "legally" being rape, since a "no" may not have been uttered. Makes me wonder what kind of men actually wants to have a sex with a woman who cannot participate at all and see that as something akin to consensual sex. It's really gross.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 9:45 p.m.
After reading the story it doesn't sound like the women knew what happened either, and if the men were just as drunk maybe they don't even know the details either and that could explain their silence. If everyone was to drunk to remember what happened how do they know a crime was committed? Maybe charging everyone in this case would make since.
Joe_Citizen
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
HUH?
bamwow
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
Is there any way to know if the woman had been drugged? Might there be any witnesses who something suspicious that night?
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:03 p.m.
bamwow: I'm sure that testing for drugs like that are a part of the hospital/police medical evaluation, but at this point, there's been no information released to us indicating that she was drugged. Not saying that she definitely was not drugged, we just don't know that yet.
smokeblwr
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
Is the dude who was watching being charged with illegally surveying an unclothed person?
M Brown
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:51 p.m.
Can we say innocent "unless" proven guilty? If someone is innocent "until" proven guilty the assumption is that he is guilty and we only need to prove it. Just a little detail that has always bugged me.
AnnArborDon
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
The definition of "until" is "before or up to the point of time when". So if that point never occurs, then "until" is the same as "never". Examples: "Until the twelfth of never." "Until the end of time." If you REALLY want to be picky, you could say "unless AND until".
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
One can only hope justice is served whatever that may ultimately mean.
lisam
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
Are you sure about the "street"....Gross Road...never heard of it.
lisam
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
Thanks :) My mouse apparently wasn't working the first time.
Spencer Thomas
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
zoom in the map one click and the name shows up.
81COM
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:57 p.m.
Another words they exercised their right to remain silent and have a lawyer present. Police may concider it "not cooperating" Innocent until proven guilty and 2 sides to every story.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
Prosecutor Brian Mackie is deciding whether or not to press charges? The suspects have been released? Deputy Chief Gordy Schick making another public statement on an "alleged" sex abuse case. Let us hope he is not reportings allegations as fact again. Sounds like there is more to this case than meets the eye. I hope the Prosecutor's Office is more circumspect on these matters than in the past. If the County Prosecutor should err it needs to be on the side of caution.
Arieswoman
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
I could comment on this story but know it would only be removed by AnnArbor.com. I can only say that for myself it would never happen.
M.
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 11:40 p.m.
You can't say for sure what could happen to you, but it seems like you trust yourself to survey your drinks at a bar 100% of the time and never leave your glass even for a bathroom break. Date rape can happen to anyone.
rs
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:35 p.m.
The suspects did not cooperate with police and were released? The prosecutor is deciding whether or not to press charges? Its as if the suspects are being rewarded for not being cooperative during the investigation. Whats going on here?
AESeaman
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
There is absolutely nothing to be gained from the American criminal justice sytem by accepting responsibility for your actions.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
There is no duty for the arrestees to give voluntary statements to police; it is never the prudent thing to do. They both wisely exercised their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
rs: In my experience, a lot of arrests come after confessions from suspects. If these two did not confess (which appears to be the case), the police will likely have to gather more evidence that will point to them as being the people involved in this assault. I don't think it's a case of them being rewarded, it's more a case of police needing more evidence in order to keep them behind bars at this point.
ThaKillaBee
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:25 p.m.
Oh boy. Most of the comments on this article aren't going to be kind.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 5:53 p.m.
The suspects are entitled to a presumption of innocence and it appears the alleged victim does not even know how she got there.