Posted on Sat, Jan 2, 2010 : 6 p.m.
Ypsilanti police say 2 men beaten and robbed
By Tom Perkins
Two men reported they were beaten and robbed in downtown Ypsilanti early Friday, according to city police.
The victims, 21-year old and 29 year-old men from out of state, reported that five to seven people followed them from Abe’s Coney Island to a Key Bank parking lot on the other side of Michigan Avenue at approximately 5:40 a.m.
The victims told police the group then assaulted them with their fists and feet, and stole their credit cards and cash before fleeing on foot.
Both men sustained minor injuries in the incident, police said.
Police have no suspects at this time.
Comments
ConcernedLincolnParent
Mon, Jan 4, 2010 : 7:26 p.m.
As a former EMU grad, that area isn't exactly the safest at 5:40 in the morning. More importantly, the food there is disgusting and low-grade.
Concerned Citizen
Mon, Jan 4, 2010 : 7:43 a.m.
Doesn't Abe's have security cameras?! You would think that in today's world, this article would be accompanied with pics from the security tapes. What is the issue here? Lets catch these degenerates.
abu hamane
Mon, Jan 4, 2010 : 2:53 a.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BCOeh9FsOM&feature=related
Ricebrnr
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 11:53 a.m.
Holy Cow! Violence can happen randomly to anyone even in "safe" areas??!?! You'd think next to a campus, a post office and the police station would be safe! If only there was a way to even the odds against such senseless violence. :(
AndyYpsilanti
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
Historically speaking, how much crime has occurred on Liberty St in A2, about a block from the police station? When I worked there many years ago, there was a fair amount, and long time area employees told stories about how bad it used to be. A2 has plenty of crime and a much higher robbery and b&e rate. It also has more police from both the city and U of M than Ypsi. So what was your point?
jondhall
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 9:37 a.m.
One thing is for SURE, The Ypsilanti Police Department is STILL located one Block away from Abe's! Also does not EMU Police ( Do they still have them, they used to give out parking tickets) patrol the College of Business located across the Street? I grew up is Ypsilanti and Graduated from EMU, I have escaped that area......I should write a book for Hollywood and get a tax CREDIT!
AndyYpsilanti
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 9:28 a.m.
Malorie, I am not saying Ypsi crime shouldn't be reported, just that it belongs on the crime blotter with the rest of the crime reports. AA.com is guilty of reporting all township crime under the Ypsi page, making it look like there is much more crime than there is here. And yes, AA. Has historically under reported its crime, and its news sources have collaborated in this; the Ann Arbor News was notorious for it and the AA.com continues it. This is not conspiracy it is fact.
M.
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.
Andy, I think more than one person here was confused about the location. A2.com staff, I am one who appreciates the Ypsi crime stories. I live in Ypsilanti so of course I'm more interested in the crime here as it keeps me informed. Is there any validity to the claims that Ypsi crime is over-reported while Ann Arbor's is under-reported? I've suspected there are other reasons than some need to make Ann Arbor look crime free (which seems like a lame conspiracy to me). Maybe AAPD doesn't give as much information about crimes; maybe you only report on crimes that actually seem newsworthy...I can think of tons of reasons, but a conspiracy to make readers somehow think A2 is crime free (or just has much lower crime) seems the most unlikely.
AndyYpsilanti
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 7:37 a.m.
Reading the comments again, 90% of this is slander and false information. What gang problem? Ypsi hasn't had a real gang problem in over a decade, if not longer. Where is the aggressive moderation of false information and unfounded comments that occur in so many stories on this site?
AndyYpsilanti
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 7:11 a.m.
Once again AA.com makes crime a front page story in Ypsi when all AA crime gets buried on the crime page. This is a mugging. How many muggings occurred in Ann Arbor this month? Ypsi had one. This one. But to look at this publication's coverage, you would think our city is crime ridd en, especially given the continuing habit of assigning all township crime to Ypsilanti. And here again, you let a random and pointless insult to buisnessman Stuart Beal stand, a clear violation of your comment policy. More and more the bias in your Ypsilanti coverage looks something less than incidental or accidental. I also must wonder if any of the previous commentators have ever even been to Ypsilanti. This is a busy corner containing a senior center, court house, bank building and the EMU college of buisness. The post office and library are a block away. It is in no way a dangerous area. This was a random crime, and is in no way the norm for this area. Abe's is Ypsi's Fleetwood; on any given weekend 50 people a night make this same walk from the entertainment district on Washington and back (these men were from a band playing Mittenfest at the Elbow Room.) These two men, out of hundreds of people walking here every month, were mugged. I'd be willing to bet more people are robbed during a U of M football home game. Ann Arbor publications have been hiding Ann Arbor crime and highlighting Ypsilanti crime for decades, trying to perpetuate the idea that you are safer in A2. A comparison of crime data between the two cities (not the townships) doesn't bear that out and has not for many years. Stop perpetuating the myth and start publishing all crime in the crime blotter where it belongs.
glimmertwin
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 4:50 a.m.
Yes, Abe's is right near the police station and directly across from the EMU school of business. Nice.
ronn oneal
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 2:51 a.m.
No abe coney island has a key acroos the street Located at Michigan down ton ypsi and Hamilton, at the corna from ypsi police station. those guy run thru ainworth circle behind station and fan out into the so called south side of ypsi. thats the Abes this happen at. yes those other place is a mess also but cant compare to the Gangs problem on s.side..............
Johnny
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 2:44 a.m.
I have said this before, I will say it again. To ALL thugs, robbers, crack dealers, crack heads and anyone else who is corrupt. I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN YPSILANTI. I DARE ANY OF YOU HOODLUMS TO ATTEMPT TO ROB, BURGLARIZE OR ANY OTHER SHADY ACT, BECAUSE IF YOU DO- I WILL RESPOND WITH DEADLY FORCE! IT WILL BE LEGAL TOO! IF YOU CORNER ME, OR GOD PROHIBIT YOU FROM ENTERING MY HOME, AGAIN- YOU WILL BE MAKING A FATAL MISTAKE!
billy
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 2:05 a.m.
Key bank is at mi ave and harris. That area sucks. Thanks Stewart Beal for providing us a safe living place!
mihillbilly1
Sun, Jan 3, 2010 : 1:33 a.m.
Billy....Not disputing your claim of Harris and Mich Ave being crack/prostitute central, but this mugging occurred at the corner of Hamilton and Michigan Ave....And it has nothing to do with the beating these 2 men had to indure....furthermore, Harris is 4 miles further east....what is the connection? There isn't!
Technojunkie
Sat, Jan 2, 2010 : 11:03 p.m.
Smart going to the bank parking lot though. Should be decent security camera coverage there. Odds are that the thugs are well known to the local police.
Donion Foops
Sat, Jan 2, 2010 : 10:15 p.m.
All the terrorists are not found abroad. I stay out of dangerous neighborhoods, and it's usually pretty easy to recognize the places and times where I'm not safe.
billy
Sat, Jan 2, 2010 : 9:33 p.m.
The area by that Harris and Michigan Avenue is Crack/Heroin/Prostitute Central. It's populated by roaming gangs of youth who are out to rob and steal and aspire to become the next American Gangster. It's right by an overpass so they can escape to Ford Boulevard or Riley ct. Shouldn't there be a warning to all out of towners to avoid that area?
mrk
Sat, Jan 2, 2010 : 9:08 p.m.
5-7 people? Frightening.