WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A woman who is accused of killing a 76-year-old man during a carjacking at a Burger King restaurant in Waterford Township has been arrested.
Waterford Township police said 38-year-old Ruth Pozdol was taken into custody Sunday night without incident in the Walled Lake area.
Clifford Van Haywald was a regular at the Burger King; everybody who worked there knew him by name.
Waterford Township police said Haywald was eating breakfast when Pozdol (pictured, above) sat down at his table.
"She somehow befriended him, made conversation with the victim. The victim then allowed the suspect to use his cellphone," said Lt. Todd Hasselbach. "During the course of their conversation she decided to grab his keys and take off toward his truck and he followed out."
Police said Pozdol jumped in Haywald's 2001 Chevy pickup and started the engine. As the 76-year-old tried to stop her, police said Pozdol ran over him as she drove away.
Van Haywald was rushed to the hospital, but died from his injuries.
Police work led to the quick identification of the suspect.
"We knew that she had come from across the street. There is a clinic across the street where somebody knew of a woman that had recently walked away from this clinic," said Hasselbach. "And then we got the name, started putting two-and-two together with the description, matched her clothing, her height, weight, age and all that, and what exactly what was described as the woman that walked into the truck was the one that walked away from the clinic across the street."
Police said Pozdel has a criminal past, including retail fraud and narcotics possession.
Haywald's family urged Pozdol to turn herself in Sunday. They also told Local 4 they plan to be at every court hearing until justice is served.
Amber Davis said her grandfather wouldn't have thought twice about helping the woman.
"He would have given her a ride to wherever she needed to go, but instead this is what she, you know, did to him," Davis said. "It's just not fair."
Haywald leaves behind four children, three grandchildren and a great grandson.
"He loved all his kids, all his grandchildren. He was the most kind-hearted man that you'd ever meet," said Davis.
The workers at the Burger King gave police vital information about Pozdol, including the direction she walked from and what happened in the parking lot.
The workers are sending Haywald's family condolences. They told Local 4 News he would often come to the Burger King restaurant with his grandchildren.
Pozdol was taken to the Oakland County Jail pending warrants, police said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the costs for Haywald's funeral.
Clifford Van Haywald with his great-grandson.