DETROIT – Officers from the Michigan Department of Corrections have been searching for a parole absconder since Wednesday evening in the area of Grand River Avenue and I-94.
Detroit police, Michigan State Police and U.S. Border Patrol officers are assisting in the search for this person, who has been identified as Rowvontae Walker, 19.
Walker has been called a suspect in a carjacking and armed robbery. Police said he was talking to his parole officer about the incidents while he was handcuffed and shackled.
However, he somehow was able to run away. He escaped from 5300 Lawton Avenue, which is right near Grand River Avenue and I-94, around 3 p.m. through a rear door.
“We are assisting the Michigan Department of Corrections,” said Detroit Police Deputy Chief Renee Hall. “An individual, Mr. Rowvontae Walker, he came to the location today to report to his probation officer. They were violating him. He is wanted for carjacking and armed robbery. They placed shackles on him as well as handcuffs. He ran away from those individuals and right now we have multiple agencies, state police, Detroit police, border patrol and several others assisting them in locating this individual.”
He was detained at Lawton Parole Office and being questioned about a car jacking when he walked away. pic.twitter.com/Ey5BD5CFWd
— MichiganDOC (@MichiganDOC) February 3, 2016
Walker was incarcerated in Sept. 2013 after being sentenced for an unarmed robbery that happened in Detroit. He was paroled in Sept 2015.
The Department of Corrections and its Absconder Recovery Unit are continuing to work with local law enforcement to apprehend Walker.
He is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds and has a mole on the right side of face. He has tattoos on his right forearm, lower right arm, back and chest.
"Out first priority is to find and return this parolee to custody," said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. "We are asking for help from the public to contact the police or to call 911 if you have information that would assist in the investigation."
The MDOC said that those in the community should lock their vehicles and homes, and should not approach Walker if spotted.
Stay with ClickOnDetroit for more information on this developing story.