Person of interest in custody connected to Detroit rapes

DETROIT – Detroit police say they have a person of interest in custody connected to a series of recent Detroit rapes after finding him with a zipper mask during a traffic stop Friday.

Chief James Craig says police were pulling a car over Friday night when the driver tossed a gun out of the window. Officers noticed that the passenger in the car had a zipper mask similar to the one described by victims in several rape cases around Detroit.

Both people in the car were taken into custody for DNA testing.

Police are investigating a total of at least four sexual assaults on the city's west side.

Police say that on March 24, a suspect with a zipper mask approached a woman while she was getting out of her car at 10:50 p.m. in the area of Livernois and W. 7 Mile Road. He fired a shot into the air and forced her back into her car, making her drive to another area. He then tried to sexually assault her. The woman escaped shortly afterwards and was not seriously injured.

On April 5, another woman was getting in her car at Grand River Avenue and Ward Avenue when the suspect forced her back into her car and sexually assaulted her. Authorities say he took off in a brand new white Ford Fusion or Taurus after the attack. Police say the victim is okay physically.

In another case, three women were abducted from one gas station and sexually assaulted.

Sources told Local 4 that two men may be involved in the crimes.

Work continues on this case over the weekend, as Detroit police work with Michigan State Police in the investigation.

Stay tuned to ClickOnDetroit.com on Monday for more updates from police about this case.


About the Author:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.