Updated: Police arrest man suspected in sexual attacks on girls
The man detained for questioning Thursday after attacks on three girls in the West Willow neighborhood of Ypsilanti Township has been arrested.
Investigators interviewed the 25-year-old Ypsilanti Township man Thursday after a security camera image and tips from residents in the area of the assaults helped police find him. He is expected to be arraigned Friday or Saturday, said Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derrick Jackson.
Police have arrested a man suspected in three attacks on girls in the West Willow neighborhood of Ypsilanti Township.
Deputies picked the man up shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday at his home after releasing a wanted poster, including a photo taken by a security camera in the neighborhood, earlier in the day.
While the photo was released Thursday, the suspect's name has not been released.
Police said the man groped two girls and tried to abduct a third as they were walking to the bus stop in their neighborhood Wednesday.
Deputies reported a 17-year-old girl was approached from behind by a man who had ridden past her on a bike as she was walking to her school bus stop about 7 a.m. Wednesday near Chevrolet Street and Studebaker Avenue. The man put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming and used his other hand to grope her crotch, letting her go when she bit his hand and ran back to her nearby home.
While deputies were in the area investigating that report, an 11-year-old girl approached police. Jackson said that girl reported a man matching the description of the bicyclist had approached her and groped her chest area before fleeing.
While talking to the girls, investigators received another call from dispatch notifying them of the kidnapping attempt of a different 11-year-old girl by a man matching the same description.
Jackson said the girl was on her way to a school bus stop at 7:30 a.m. near Nash Avenue and Dodge Court when the man approached her, grabbed her arm and said “you’re coming with me.”
The girl managed to yank her arm away and ran away and screamed, he said.
The man matches the description, in both appearance and actions, of a man suspected in a sexual assault reported last week near McCartney Avenue and State Street. Jackson said a man rode past a girl who was walking in the area before turning around, groping her and riding away. Police are still investigating that incident as well.
Anyone with any information regarding about the assaults is asked to call 734-973-4884, or the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office confidential tip line number 734-973-7711.
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