Driver who stopped to help 'disabled motorist' reports being approached with handgun, police say
A driver who stopped to help an apparently disabled motorist in Ypsilanti Township early today said the man then came at him with a handgun, authorities said.
The incident occurred about 2:20 a.m. on Huron River Drive, near Superior Road.
According to a crime alert, the victim stopped his car behind another vehicle in the road that appeared to be disabled. A man then stepped from the front of the "disabled vehicle" with a handgun, reports said.
The victim ran to his vehicle and drove away, police said. He was not injured.
The victim described the man with the gun as black and wearing a gold colored sweatshirt. The vehicle was described as a black, mid-1990s, four-door Dodge Stratus.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office at (734) 971-8400.
Comments
Ricebrnr
Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.
That is a good point. If it can happen to those trained to key in on guns, it surely can happen to the general populace.
ResidentAnvil
Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 1:35 p.m.
Or, maybe the guy had a cell phone in is hand and the "victim" saw something different.
Elaine F. Owsley
Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 9:24 a.m.
Check the make of the car and the color, drive on and call the police to report a stranded motorist at that location. You're safe and still provide help. Especially at that time of the morning. No matter where you are, common sense should tell you to be careful.
Ricebrnr
Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 6:02 a.m.
That may indeed be the case but that brings up a few points. If the guy with the gun was a valid CPL holder the law portion of his training should have taught him 2 things. 1) You don't draw until you have a reasonable and articulable fear of death or great bodily harm. Drawing for any other purpose can and would be considered brandishing 2) If you do ever draw your firearm be the first to report it to the police. There are only ever 2 sides to any police report. There is a perpetrator and a vicitm. First one to make the report as in this case gets to be the victim. The other guy gets to be the bad guy. So either this guy was valid and did not have a phone (doubtful) or he was more likely not carrying concealed legally and therefore not actually disabled (as if he was he'd still be ther for the police ti find), and had not so great intentions. Be safe out there 1*
hussflier
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 4:24 p.m.
OR Maybe he though the guy that stopped was trying to rob him and though he would be proactive!
Tom Joad
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 4:20 p.m.
2:20 AM You don't stop for anyone...everyone has a cell phone to call for help and if they don't they wait
boom
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 4:09 p.m.
I haven't heard of this scam either and I seem to remember reading about a motorist who was broken down on US 23 or I 96 and was robbed when he thought a good samaritan stopped to help. Makes you wonder if this guy thought he was about to be robbed too.
Chuck
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 3:45 p.m.
Hard to believe a person would whip out his gun and just let his intended victim just walk away without taking something form him... Hmmm..
ThaKillaBee
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 2:16 p.m.
At 2am, the best I can do is roll down my window and offer to call someone if they haven't already. I'm not getting out unless I have a car full of backup.
Lorthic
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 2:08 p.m.
@Ricebrnr & ChrisW I didn't mean, "what's the point of this article?" I was curious as to the point of this type of robbery scam. How often does it work? How often is it REPORTED? This is the first I've heard of something like this in AA. It's not too common, even in other areas I've lived in.
ChrisW
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 2:04 p.m.
The point is to warn people of the scam and maybe next time someone sees a Dodge Stratus by the side of the road they'll call the police. Any word on the color of the vehicle?
Ricebrnr
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 1:49 p.m.
I suspect the point was to warn people of this common robbery scam. And ya wonder why people think twice about getting involved?
Lorthic
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 1:46 p.m.
What was the point of this...?