GROSSE POINTE WOODS, Mich. – Two men are facing multiple felony charges after authorities say they carjacked a rented Cadillac Escalade at gunpoint in Grosse Pointe Woods before fleeing and crashing another vehicle.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Robert Bates, 37, of Detroit, and Skylar Carlisle, 28, of Eastpointe, were arraigned Thursday (July 30) in Grosse Pointe Woods Municipal Court.
According to authorities, Bates and Carlisle allegedly took a rented 2021 Cadillac Escalade from a man and his daughter at gunpoint on July 28.
Police said the suspects later fled in a separate vehicle before crashing, leading to their arrests by Grosse Pointe Woods police.
The charges are being handled by the Michigan Attorney General’s Auto Fraud Task Force, which investigates large-scale auto theft operations and auto-related crimes.
Bates faces several charges, including carjacking, third-degree fleeing and eluding, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, felony firearm counts, assault with a dangerous weapon, and altering identification marks on a firearm.
Carjacking carries a potential life sentence under Michigan law.
Bates is also charged as a habitual offender, fourth offense, which could increase potential penalties.
Carlisle faces charges including carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, altering identification marks on a firearm, and two counts of felony firearm.
Officials said the case is part of the Attorney General’s broader effort to target organized vehicle theft.
In January 2025, Nessel expanded the Department of Attorney General’s Auto Insurance Fraud Unit into the Auto Fraud Task Force to address both insurance fraud and large-scale criminal auto theft operations.
The task force has partnered with the Michigan State Police Metro Detroit Auto-Theft Recovery Team, embedding a dedicated prosecutor with the unit to pursue high-level auto theft cases in the region.