Ypsilanti Township parolee wearing GPS device charged with robbing pizzeria
An Ypsilanti Township man who spent 23 years in prison for rape was charged today with robbing a local pizzeria while wearing an electronic tether.
Randolph Westbrook Jr., 43, was released from prison in January after serving more than two decades of an 18- to 50-year prison sentence, state records show.
Randolph Westbrook
Westbrook, who was to remain on parole until 2012, was charged today with armed robbery.
According to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, Westbrook entered the Mr. Pizza in the 800 block of Ecorse Road at 11:05 p.m. Wednesday with a gun. He ordered an employee to open the cash register and stole $200, reports said.
A deputy in the area spotted Westbrook on a bicycle, and he took off running into a heavily wooded area, police said. He was arrested and was wearing a mandated GPS tether unit, police said. The handgun and cash were recovered.
Prison records show Westbrook was convicted by a Washtenaw County jury of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1986, and was sentenced to 18 to 50 years in prison. In 1988, he was charged with possessing a weapon in an Ionia County prison and was sentenced to two to five years in prison on that conviction, records show.
Westbrook is named on the state sex offender registry, where he lists an address in the West Willow neighborhood of Ypsilanti Township.
Westbrook is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing Oct. 6.
Comments
Monica R-W
Sun, Sep 26, 2010 : 12:57 a.m.
Well MPRI does it again! Sent this ex-felon (now with new felony) back in our neighborhood, trying to "rehabilitate" them and what do they do....not monitor this career criminal, at all. I am happy none of the employees of Mr. Pizza were hurt or injured (a very nice crew works there). Thank God this one is out of the community for awhile. Wonder which one is next to go......
LaMusica
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 8:10 p.m.
I agree Bear...sounds like he became too institutionalized.
clara
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 2:32 p.m.
It would be nice to know whether he was paroled with MPRI or not. MPRI is supposed to be a bridge and support network starting in prison to set up a successful environment for the offender. The MPRI program is to bridge services for the offender in prison, while in the community on parole and even after prison if services are needed. The failure to address parole offender's MPRI status is reporting is a disservice to the tax paying members of the community. It would be nice to know if this system is working or not. If we can't even find out if he was part of the program we end up with way too many questions. Who can ask the Department of Corrections if he was in the MPRI system?
SuperFreckleFace
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.
Unfortunately the State of Michigan has already spent over $30,000/year to house this fella, he's on his own now. Well, guess not.
fortin911
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 10:48 a.m.
Unfortunaately this crime section is turning into the looser of the week Section of annarbor.com. I know of a very low cost cure for this type of predator and hope it is taught in prison so they never return to prison.
Elaine F. Owsley
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 8:29 a.m.
Well, gang. He has been out since January and, unless he got away with something, has managed to live on the "outside" - where he had lived for 23 years before going to prison. It's not like he was dropped off on the moon.
Killroy
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 8:02 a.m.
A lousy 200 dollars? OMG.
vg550
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 6:21 a.m.
I totally agree with Hunterjim "It is not society's fault this thug decides to commit an armed robbery, it is his alone." I'm sick and tired of people not accepting accountability/responsibility for their actions and expect to be taken care of from the rest of us hard working, tax paying, citizens.... and I don't want to hear the excuse that they had a deprived childhood,etc, etc. I lived through all that (and unfortunately more).. and the choices I made was to try and be a good and hardworking person, mother, grandmother and friend. When I signed up for social security at 62, the room was filled to capacity, and I was the oldest person there.
ezbngreen
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 3:54 a.m.
It is now obvious that 20 years was not enough time for him to be fixed.
treetowncartel
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 12:10 a.m.
Twenty years is a long time out of the loop to re-enter society and readjust.
bunnyabbot
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 12:03 a.m.
crazy town eyes
treetowncartel
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 : 12:01 a.m.
Twenty years ago people were carrying pagers and making calls from pay phones if they were not at home. Twenty years ago there were about 64 channnels on cable. Twenty years ago Michigan football had a tradition of winning, suffering only one.500 season in recent years. Twenty years ago we had mandatory minimums for crack cocaine possession. Twenty years ago genetically modified food was basically an unknown. Twenty years ago self checkout scanners did not exist. Twenty years ago the bridges on Stadium over State Street carried four lanes of traffic. Twenty years ago this guy probably could have gotten a job upon release from prison that might have prevented him from returning to prison in the manner he is now.
ezbngreen
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 9:24 p.m.
Third time I guess is the charm this should land him a Habitual Offender. No need to try anymore rehab for this guy it's time to just lock him up....
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 8:41 p.m.
@ cash and @ bob needham, i agree. why not edit the original story and bring it up on the home page? i have been confused many times by this type of thing. an indepth report of a robbery, b&e, and/or other crime. then when someone's caught, charged, etc it seems like a redundant story.
Nephilim
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 8:36 p.m.
Breadman why don't you open your house and your heart up to these people just getting out. You might be the one that could make the difference.
breadman
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 7:40 p.m.
Another MPRI that needed help and failed the service. MPRI is a great service, But if you served your full time the State just cuts you out of prison with no food, shelter, only the clothes you have from prison. Needed help to adjust to the real world..
Cash
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 6:01 p.m.
@Bob Needham, It might be good at least to address the fact that this was reported yesterday. Reading yesterday and reading today someone would think these were two separate crimes, not the same one.
Bob Needham
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.
Cash, Yesterday's story only reported the arrest, with few details. Today's story reports a new development, that the suspect has been formally charged, and adds information including the name of the suspect, his past conviction, etc. It's longstanding, standard practice that this would warrant a new article.
Cash
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 4:22 p.m.
This article was posted as a front page story yesterday.yesterday. I'm not sure what the point is.... posting it as front page news again today. Why not just update the first article?
Bear
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 3:45 p.m.
sounds like after 20 years in the pen, he couldn't (or wasn't allowed to) adjust to life on the outside. Surefire way to go back to prison is to rob a place while wearing your tether.