University of Michigan police warn of robbery suspect begging for money on campus

Posted on Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.

University of Michigan police warn of robbery suspect begging for money on campus

By Amalie Nash

University of Michigan police are warning students and staff to be on the lookout for a robbery suspect who has reappeared on campus to beg for money since being released from jail.

Yshelu Johnson, who has a long criminal history, is accused of robbing a U-M student near the South Quad residence hall last week. He was arrested later that night and was released on bond from jail after his arraignment, police said.

Yshelu Johnson

According to police, Johnson is accused of grabbing a student as he was walking along the sidewalk, pulling the student several feet off the sidewalk and demanding money. Tips led to Johnson's arrest.

Since his release from jail on 10 percent of $5,000 bond, Johnson has reappeared on campus begging for money, U-M police said. He's reportedly asked several people for $20 to be able to go see his family in Flint, according to a bulletin issued on the campus police website.

U-M police spokeswoman Diane Brown said several people have reported seeing Johnson on campus or in his vehicle near campus, where he tells a sad story and asks for money. After the Sept. 23 robbery near South Quad, several others said Johnson asked them for money the same day, Brown said.

Johnson was the subject of a 2008 Ann Arbor News profile, where he discussed his drug addiction and attempts to turn his life around. Ann Arbor police named Johnson among their most known criminal offenders — he was named in 98 police reports from January 2001 to August 2007. Those included burglary, threatening behavior, assault and battery, aggressive panhandling, narcotics possession and shoplifting.

In 2008, Johnson was known on the city's west side for approaching people with an empty gas can, where he claimed his car ran out of gas and his 9-month-old child and the baby's mother were in the car. But Johnson never had a child. Or a stalled car in need of gas.

Brown said people have recently reported similar stories. Johnson was found the night of the robbery near East Hoover and Greene asking for money, police said.

Campus police issued a trespass warning to Johnson not to return to campus, so he can be arrested if he is on U-M property, Brown said.

Johnson is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing next Wednesday, Oct. 6.

Anyone who sees Johnson on campus is asked to call the U-M Department of Public Safety at 911 or (734) 763-1131.

Comments

Eva

Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 4:18 a.m.

I have talked to some people who have known him a long time before all this mess with drugs. Prior to the last couple months he had been clean for three years. I think that this is a problem with the system. People who have addictions like this should be mandated to long term treatment. I mean like a year. Not these 1 month things that people with drug problems get sentenced to instead of jail. Unfortunately, that won't ever happen because there is no money for it and our society would rather incarcerate than treat.

UgottaBkidding

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 3:25 p.m.

Throw away the key please!!

Somewhat Concerned

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 11 a.m.

This guy can follow you all the way across the Diag, harassing you to give him money, and there is nothing to stop him unless another student steps in. The UM police are in their cars, on the edges of campus, talking on their cell phones. If one of them accidentally was patrolling on campus, he or she would do nothing because the U thinks this guy's "right" to follow you around, menacing you for money, is more important than your right to be safe on your own campus. This guy is just doing what works. He understands the system. He is not crazy and he is not pitiful. We might be, but he isn't.

Somewhat Concerned

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.

leaguebus

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.

How many people give this guy money because his demeanor is threatening? He has tried me several times and his story sounds sad, but after the first refusal, he steps a little closer and maintains eye contact so it is hard to not see some kind of threat. I finally told him to turn around and go away or I was going to call the law. He did because I am a fairly large muscular guy. What if I had been a female? Would he have done the same thing, maybe not. This guy needs to be off the streets in a cell somewhere. With over 100 police reports, its time to get some hard time.

simply amazed

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.

Curious...where did he come up with the $500 to get released?

a2roots

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 8:34 a.m.

How about one of you bleeding hearts that feel oh so bad about this guy go track him down, wrap your arms around, hug him and then take him home with you.

ypsi

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 3:29 a.m.

He asked me for money at CVS on industrial.

racerx

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 2:13 a.m.

@Stephen-if you had child considering going to the UM you would have concerns because of him? Really? Because he "begs"? I'd be more concern with a mentally unstable student who might be on campus but due to HIPPA laws, the public would never know about it than some random guy begging for money.

Mr Go

Fri, Oct 1, 2010 : 12:51 a.m.

Cthulhu Johnson?! well, what the hell with a name like that...

Ricebrnr

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 9:36 p.m.

No in a just and civilized society it is he who should be avoiding the rest of us.

ypsicat

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 9:21 p.m.

This is just very sad all the way around. I hope Mr. Johnson finds his way back. In the meantime, stay clear of him, people.

Jay Thomas

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 8:39 p.m.

Wow! This fellow is a one man crime wave. If he's arrested on U of M property they'll just let him go again, right? Probably the same day. The system is clearly broken. Thank goodness we have Chief Jones to keep us safe. I wonder if it was the Chief who first introduced Mr. Johnson here to A2? You know, because "we like to take care of the folks we can take care of," and all that.;)

Isanopinion

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 8:24 p.m.

He also cruises the Target parking lot. He asked me for money several weeks ago with the same sob story.

Ricebrnr

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 6:53 p.m.

@quetzalcoatl Depends on what you consider to be a waste of money. If your end goal is "rehabilitation" then sure I suppose it could be considered such. If however (and I believe the Tea Partiers and right wingers will agree) your end goal to to separate those who do harm to society from the rest of civil society, then it can be considered money well spent.

quetzalcoatl

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 4:53 p.m.

U-M police, Ann Arbor police, Washtenaw County sheriffs, Veterans Affairs police (!), Pittsfield Twp. police, Ypsilanti Township police, Ypsilanti police, Michigan State police.... those are the marked cars I have seen on campus area streets in the past week or so. I have seen police in black uniforms wearing anti-ballistic vests and paratrooper-bloused trousers stuffed into jackboots; brown uniformed police; blue uniformed police. This in a town with a crime rate that rivals the Vatican. All governments seek to maintain a monopoly on the use of violence (review your undergraduate government class materials if you disagree) and especially over the past generation taxpayers shell out big bucks to allow them to do so. We spend $30-50,000 a year a head to incarcerate literally millions of U.S. citizens, and we have problems with guys like this on the street? Talk about throwing money at a problem with no demonstrable results -- where are right-wingers and Tea Partiers when it comes to all this wasted tax money?

Truffledog

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 4:50 p.m.

Addiction turns us into someone we don't want to be. Looks like his misery was cheerfully refunded. Sad reading the 2008 story. Worrying about making amends with a few white knuckle months clean is a sure mark of doom. Hope this fellow gets some surrender and starts over again. One heck of a story if he ever stays clean....

Robert

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 4:40 p.m.

I see this guy all the time on state st. He's stopped asking me for money. I give him the same cold stare every time. If people would stop giving him what he asks for he wouldn't keep at it. Not that his criminal activity is your responsibility... but don't reward it.

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 4:39 p.m.

omf...I wish the face was clearer, this looks like a guy who approached me on Cross in Ypsi last week asking for money to get to flint because his car broke down on Michigan Ave. with his kid and wife. He was really agitated after I said no, saying "Thanks a lot ma'am, thank you" and stomping off.

Austin

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 4:31 p.m.

While I was eating lunch at the EMU campus (not U of M, mind you)-and I'm serious about this-the same man came up to me (well, he had sunglasses on), asking for money, and he told the same exact story about the car and the baby and everything. I told him I had none, so he walked away, and then came back, asking for my half-drunk diet Mountain Dew. Being the person I am (can't deny somebody something that isn't of much value to me), I gave it to him when he said he was parched. That guy, in effect, robbed me of Mountain Dew. I hope he gets caught.

ezbngreen

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 4:24 p.m.

Isn't this the guy from the previous story on A2.com that was highlighted as the poster child for MPRI sucess?

Ricebrnr

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 4:05 p.m.

@ignatz annarbor.com/news/are-campus-gun-policies-unconstitutional-debate-on-campus-gun-bills-continues/ People over 21, without criminal records and background checked by the Federal, State and Local authorities are barred from U of M Property if they choose to to have arms for defense as is their right. People who are less likely to commit crimes than even the police as a demographic. If it's not as I stated, what would you call it?

SemperFi

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 3:57 p.m.

Don't give money to panhandlers. Period. The practice will continue as long as it's lucrative. There are too many better ways to help those in need.

Stephen

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 3:52 p.m.

How about a violation of his parole / release... No illegal activity, i.e. begging for money under false pretenses. This is a highly respected school, and a great community. If I had a child going to U. of M. of considering it, I would be weary of sending them with criminal activity like this.

Macabre Sunset

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 3:27 p.m.

I remember that story, wondered why the A2 News would glorify a career criminal who has caused so much harm. It's frustration with the inability our judges seem to have to address people like this that leads to three-strikes laws.

Ignatz

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 3:27 p.m.

Ricebrnr: He is allowed on campus, not welcomed. Where do you see where "law abiding citizens" are not?

bunnyabbot

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 3:10 p.m.

back when he had dreads he decided to sleep just outside my work door. I worked late one evening and when I was ready to leave I saw him lying on the ground. I had to wait for the police to show up to send him away before I could exit. He reaked of alcohol.

Ricebrnr

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 2:49 p.m.

Thanks UofM! Criminals are welcome on campus but not law abiding citizens who just might want to defend themselves against said criminals. You'd expect more reasoned thought from an institution of "higher" learning.

amlive

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 2:35 p.m.

I've been approached by him many, many times. First time I recall, he said he needed money for food at the Fleetwood (back when he still had dreads) - I offered to buy him a meal, but wouldn't hand any cash over. Of course he refused, and walked off cussing up a storm at me. Since then I've heard new and different stories every time, at which point I would usually switch off the safety on the pepper spray in my pocket before telling him to bugger off. The recovery story linked to looks like he was trying in earnest to recover at some point, but he's never been anything but reeking of bad news (and other stuff) any time I've encountered him. Tough road, and sounds like he certainly fell off the wagon. Sad story.

Somewhat Concerned

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 2:28 p.m.

This is Ann Arbor, so a guy with a long criminal history has the right to beg on campus, even when he is out on $500 bail after being arrested for robbing a student. His rights come ahead of any right to safety on campus. UM should be sure that parents of prospective new students know how this works. They otherwise probably expect the police to do something to keep students safe and maybe even expect a judge to worry about releasing a robbery suspect with a long criminal record on such low bond. I suspect parents currently are not warned about this. The last time I took the UM recruiting tour they talked about how safe the campus is.

Mr Go

Thu, Sep 30, 2010 : 2:21 p.m.

Aint one of his parents a professor or something at U of M? He's not stupid, Wonder what the story really is?? I have seen him around over the years.. up at the library etc.