Robbers wielding knife, asphalt chunk steal change from basketball players in Ypsilanti, police say
Six people playing basketball in Prospect Park in Ypsilanti were robbed of pocket change Sunday by two people wielding a large knife and a piece of asphalt, Ypsilanti police said.
Two young men approached the group of players ranging from 14 to 24 years old during their basketball game about 5 p.m., police said in a press release. One showed a large knife and the other a piece of asphalt. They then went through the victims' pockets and fled the area with a small amount of change, the release said.
The victims, who were not injured, ran to a nearby house and called police. Officers from the Ypsilanti Police Department, Eastern Michigan University, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and Michigan State Police set up a perimeter in the area and used a dog to try to track the suspects, but did not find them, the release said.
Police continue to investigate the robbery at the park at the intersection of East Cross and North Prospect streets, the release said.
Both men involved were black and between 16 and 20 years of age, police said. One was 5 feet, 10 inches tall, thin, had a dark complexion and was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, police said. The other was 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with a light complexion and was wearing black clothing with a hood.
Anyone with information can call Det. Sgt. Troy Fulton at (734) 482-9878.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
EyeHeartYpsi
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 5:55 p.m.
If this is the usual group of guys that play basketball at Prospect Park, I'm surprised. This is a group you'd think twice about robbing with a gun. Seems odd.
grye
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 12:22 p.m.
Let's see, rock, paper, scissors. No, just rock, knife. I'll bet if someone would have produced a piece of paper, things could have easily been resolved. Or maybe it would have gone to 4 out of 7. Would have been interesting.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 11:56 a.m.
We have to enact a ban on chunks of asphalt and knives in parks immediately if not sooner!! For the sake of the children who could possibly be against such reasonable restrictions?
DDOT1962
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 11:48 a.m.
It's very strange that TWO young men would approach to rob a group of SIX mixed-age peers with nothing more than a knife and a rock??? I would think one or two of the group being robbed would have bolted??? And they "..went through the victim's pockets..." instead of having them empty their own pockets ??? A very bizarre robbery as reported.
Wolf's Bane
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
Addicts don't think in those terms, DDOT 1963. Ypsilanti, due to its lack of law enforcement and crumbling budgets has a huge problem with drug gangs and organized prostitution rings. Addicts and junkies are everywhere.
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 10:38 a.m.
This incident reminds me of a favorite line from the movie, The Untouchables: "They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That's* the *Chicago* way!"
RJA
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 4:15 a.m.
Now not even safe in a park, playing basket ball? I guess it depends where the park is located. Glad no one was injured, and hope these cowards are caught.
Rusnak
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.
Where the park is has nothing to do with it. Cross and Prospect is not West Willow but to an elitist Ann Arborite all of Ypsilanti is a dump.