HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Police increased patrols around schools and bus stops in Hamtramck on Monday afternoon, after a 16-year-old was kidnapped at gunpoint on the way to school, authorities said.
It happened shortly after 7 a.m. as the teen was headed to Frontier International Academy, according to Hamtramck police. The suspect did not know the victim, police Chief Hussein Farhat said.
The teen was found safe about 30 minutes later at a nearby gas station. A suspect was arrested.
“It’s scary to every parent who has children,” the chief said.
Police credited the quick recovery to community cooperation and investigative tools, but said they could not provide further details because the case remains under investigation.
Authorities also did not immediately release the precise location where the teen was taken.
Mayor Adam Alharbi said the man taken into custody has a criminal history.
“It’s a criminal who had a history of rape charges, and we will make sure that he gets what he deserves,” Alharbi said.
On Edwin Street, where officers were patrolling and investigating on Monday, parents described the incident as frightening.
One mother who lives nearby said she will no longer allow her teenage daughter to walk around the neighborhood with friends.
Alharbi said the city plans to invest in additional security cameras. Hamtramck currently has about 15 cameras, a number that could grow to more than 30.
The police chief said more information will be released when the suspect appears in court later this week.