Security guard recalls being strangled at Ypsilanti Township apartment complex
The men crept up behind her near the playground, slipped a cord around her neck and strangled her until she passed out, she said.
When the security guard at Maplewood Apartments in Ypsilanti Township regained consciousness last Tuesday night, the men were attempting to rape her, she said.
“I was down on the ground,” she said. “My pants were off. My shirt was ripped open, and I could just feel them down by my legs.”
The attack happened at Maplewood Apartments in Ypsilanti Township.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
In a daze, with the cord still firmly around her neck, she reached on the ground for a can of mace, which had fallen from her hip during a struggle with the attackers. She sprayed it everywhere, hitting them and herself.
“They kept saying, ‘My face! My face!”
Despite feeling the burn on her own face, she passed out again. When she came to, "I just remember digging at the grass to crawl to get as far out in the open as I could."
The guard dialed 911 on her personal cell phone, but had difficulty speaking, and the dispatcher thought she was reporting a stabbing, she said.
She dialed a dispatcher at her company, Ypsilanti Township-based S.I.A. Protective Services & Investigations, mustering up the strength to report, "I can't breathe. I need help."
Once again, she lost consciousness.
Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies responded at 11:40 p.m., and the guard was taken by ambulance from the Chestnut Street complex to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital across the street.
She was put on oxygen for an hour, she said, and examined for signs of being sexually assaulted. While there were no obvious injuries to indicate a rape, she is awaiting test results, she said. She asked not to be identified by AnnArbor.com.
Meanwhile, investigators continue to work to identify three men believed to be involved, sheriff's department spokesman Derrick Jackson said Sunday. Authorities released a sketch of one of the men Saturday, Jackson said, but do not have detailed descriptions of the others.
Returning to work
With her attackers still at large, the 29-year-old guard is hoping to return to work this week and is in the process of getting another assignment.
She has back pain, stomach pain, difficulty swallowing, red marks on her neck and trouble hearing in her right ear. But said she will not be intimidated.
“I don’t want them to make me afraid,” she said. “I’m not gonna let them scare me out of doing my job.”
The guard was patroling alone on foot in the 271-unit complex when the attack occurred sometime after 11 p.m.
Prior to the attack, she remembers telling five people in the playground area they were loitering and had to leave.
She said she first approached a boy and girl, both in their late teens, and told them they can't hang out in the playground after dark.
After speaking with them, she approached a group of three men near the playground, who were standing by a dark-colored pickup truck with a hard cap.
“I said 'you guys need to leave," she said. “'It’s loitering back here. You guys can’t be in the park after the sun goes down.'”
The men didn't say anything, she said.
"I turned to walk away, and they put something around my neck to strangle me," she said. It felt rubbery, like a "television cord," she said.
Asking the public for help
While she didn't get a good look at anyone during the attack, the guard remembers one of the three men because the white part of his eyes stood out, she said. He looked "bug-eyed," she said.
Police released this composite sketch of one of the attackers.
Deputies released a sketch of that man, describing him as black, between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall, with a heavy build.
The guard estimated he weighs at least 250 pounds. He was clean-shaven and has a round face, she said. He was wearing dark-colored jeans and a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with buttons running up the front, she said.
The guard noted the mace she sprayed has red dye in it, so the men may have had it on them.
The guard, who has several children and lives in the Milan area, has worked at S.I.A. since June and typically doesn't work at Maplewood Apartments.
"I absolutely love the company," she said. "It's like family. Most of them were up at the hospital with me."
She has been in the process of obtaining a permit to carry a handgun and has thought about taking classes to become a police officer. She wants the attackers to go to prison.
“You’ve gotta be a coward to come attack a girl from behind,” she said. “It blows my mind.”
She asks anyone with information to come forward.
“If they’ve seen anything, they need to come out and say what they’ve seen,” she said. “Even if it’s anonymous.”
Anyone with information can call Det. Thomas Sinks at (734) 973-4874, the sheriff department’s tip line at (734) 973-7711 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 773-2587.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Rebecca
Tue, Sep 14, 2010 : 4:44 p.m.
my friend the security guard said she got a card from someone named Judy it ment a lot to her so for her thank u Judy that was very nice and thoughtful of u she really liked it.
Rebecca
Tue, Sep 14, 2010 : 4:31 p.m.
If any one knows how to help her please send her information to 12480 whittaker road milan mi 48160
Rebecca
Tue, Sep 14, 2010 : 4:28 p.m.
the security guard that was attacked at maplewood is my friend she has had a mental breakdown and has not worked in to weeks she is drinking just so she can sleep when she sleeps she has nightmares and is very moody she don't even leave her home in less to go to meetings her work will not help her get workmens comp she has3 kids and no way to support them her work will not help her at all they told her she can come to work at any time but still will not give her the classes she needs to protect her self. they have one property where there are 2 guards and they will not let her even work there which is better than trying to put her by herself. i feel like this company should be to blame for some of this they did not give any training, and the classes they told her she could and would be taken have still not been offered. they want her to come back to work.Whan is this company going to help her and her family and which so called family member at that company is going to help her with her bills and put food on the table for her kids to eat
KKITTRED
Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 12:14 p.m.
I mean this was just mean
Thomas
Tue, Aug 17, 2010 : 7:12 a.m.
Good for you!! Way to fight back! I hope someone somewhere noticed the red dye on these #*$&*@($s and turns them in!!
Cash
Tue, Aug 17, 2010 : 4:42 a.m.
Shannon, Thank you. I agree. It's important to let this lady know that the community is behind her and to let her children as well. We can triumph evil. My card is on it's way. If any fund raisers are given to help her while she is recovering, please let us know. Thanks.
trace_effect
Tue, Aug 17, 2010 : 2:51 a.m.
More technology, less people. These places should spend the money on both visible and invisible security cameras with a live feed to a guard plus the additional walking guard. The buddy system, divers use it, security guards definitely should.
Shannon
Tue, Aug 17, 2010 : 2:26 a.m.
As I stated in a previous article, SIA employees are like family. She is a strong woman and will rise above this horrible attack. Its great to see that most of the community is standing behind her. Someone asked about sending her a card, I would send it to SIA Protective Services 880 South Grove Ypsilanti, MI 48198. I'm sure that would mean a great deal to her to know that not only is her family at SIA is behind her, but the community is as well.
LaMusica
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 7:46 p.m.
Oh my goodness!! I am so glad she is OK (for lack of a better term) an that she is so brave! I love how she has the attitude of rising above this and not letting this get her down. Good for you!! That being said, I hope the police catch these vermin FAST. No telling what they are capable of...*smh*
ronn oneal
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 7:15 p.m.
Hurry up and get your armed license and your rite be bold and never fear the attacker when you have GOD on your side as you obviously does. I hope they go to prison for a long time. You fought off three men single handed so that say's that woman have more gusto than given credit for espeacially in a life and death situation. You did good and even better for coming back to work showing that you will not be defeated by some perverted PUNK'S. Oh when you get that gun, don't drop it.
Keepsitreal
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 3:50 p.m.
A bunch of cowards is what they are! Karma will get them. I'm 6'2" 300 lbs I bet they would not have tried that with me. Cowards!!!! that's someones mother, daughter,wife.
win
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 12:48 p.m.
@ILJ This woman was brutally attacked and raped by three animals and all u can comment on is editing? The authorities "gotta" catch these animals and i hope their "gonna" get life in prison.
noneya
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.
Who in their right mind really cares about damn grammar when reading a story like this? This woman could have been your mother, sister, daughter, aunt, niece of even a close friend. Out of the heart the mouth speaks and your mouth clearly tells that your heart is insensitive.
bunnyabbot
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 11:41 a.m.
this is exactly what I thought when I read the original article that a female guard working alone at a place that size would be an easy target for sexual assault. I am not happy I was right. I don't think a single guard for that place is enough. Had she not been able to spray them she could have easily ended up dead.
Cash
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
AA.com, Is there a place where we could send this woman a card? I wouldn't want her to give her name, but wondered if you would collect cards from us and deliver them to her.
SemperFi
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 10:27 a.m.
Excellent story of a brave woman that overcame an attack by multiple miscreants. I hope that she not only survives this, but becomes stronger for the unfortunate experience. Good luck to her.
CountyKate
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 9:43 a.m.
Hmm. @beachbaby, you have a point. Which now makes me wonder if the two teens who were told to move along might have been intended prey for these men, before the guard arrived. Because, if the thugs didn't live there, what would have attracted them to the playground area? I do hope someone comes forward.
beachbaby
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
Also, i wonder if, since they were hanging by the park, they are more local or, not, since they had a vehicle. Learning how violent the attack was, I would want extra security if I lived around there.
beachbaby
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 9:29 a.m.
Re: editing. i thought when they quoted someone and they know it's not proper grammar they put in that "sic"? But really, who cares. I agree with Country Kate about the mace, etc..., i'm sure red dye is not easy to scrub off. Also, it must be a decent company to work for if they feel like family after only a few months, glad they are being supportive.
djm12652
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 9:21 a.m.
ILJ...whoa...back up...this woman could have been killed and you are concerned with grammar and editing? Furthermore, "Mace" is the company name that produces numerous propellants for law enforcement and personal safety. That being said, the original product known as mace is not a pepper spray but a tear gas...get your facts straight before making blanket statements.
ILJ
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 9:06 a.m.
@Susan M: No, they are not obligated to use phonetic spellings of people's words. In professional news publications, "gotta" would be "got to" and "gonna" would be "going to." @CountyKate: Admittedly an important story about a horreneous act. My complaining about the amateurish aspects of the presentation does not take away from that fact. I'm actually surprised they published my comment. I had expected my comment would not get published and the story would be silently fixed. That's usually what happens.
Jay Allen
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
I hope they catch these thugs. And that is what they are, thugs. What a state of mind she must have been in and still had the presence to use the mace. ILJ, really? This horrific event and all you can say is "editing"? The guard was being quoted so it appears as said or spoken. Because you are being a stickler for details, you DO KNOW this, right? If all you have to do is to attack AA.Com, perhaps M-Live is a better place for you.
CountyKate
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.
Yeah, let's sit here and whine about the editing while three dangerous would-be rapists are at large. Because that's so helpful. If the Mace was dyed red, someone has seen something to suspect who is involved in this heinous act. And whoever that someone is ought to think about what type of person they're hanging around with. From the way this story reads, it's clear whatever the attackers used to strangle this woman was tied tightly around her neck and could have led to death. Who's to say these three don't turn on someone they know? They need to be gotten off the streets, now.
Barb
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 8:02 a.m.
Wow - what an impressive person. I'd like to be that brave if faced with the same circumstances.
Susan Montgomery
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 7:25 a.m.
@ILJ- I'm a stickler for editing too, but if they are quoting the guard and she said "gotta" and "gonna" then that is the way they have to report it.
ILJ
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 7:18 a.m.
So it's OK to use "gonna" and "gotta" in news stories now? Seriously? And Mace is a trademarked pepper spray, not a common noun. Editing, schmediting, eh?
Ricebrnr
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 6:12 a.m.
She was fortunate to have survived. Another security guard was disarmed and killed this weekend in Flint. Just goes to show that situational awareness trumps being armed. Kudos to the lady for fighting for her life and best wishes for a speedy recovery.