Watch CBS News

Detroit Police Have Man In Custody In Rape Of Teen Walking To School; 'We Think We Have The Right Guy'

DETROIT (WWJ) - A 22-year-old man is in police custody in connection with the rape of a 15-year-old girl who was attacked while walking to Henry Ford High School on the city's northwest side.

Detroit Police Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt said the man assaulted the teen at gunpoint Wednesday morning as she cut through a park behind the school in the area of Trojan and Grandville.

"I think it's a crime of opportunity and I think he was targeting several individuals," Dolunt said at a news conference Friday.

"In this particular case — and I haven't confirmed this — but this young lady was a friend and walking to school mate of the individual, the young lady that was killed in a car accident, the night prior over on 8 Mile," he said.

Dolunt said the girl told police she was waiting for her friend; and when her friend didn't show up she decided to continue to school on her own.

"So, it would be a crime of opportunity because one, she was alone, and two, she was taking a shortcut through the park," Dolunt said.

After an officer recognized him from a sketch based on the victim's description, the man — who they're currently calling a "person of interest" in the case — was taken into custody Friday morning at a home nearby the alleged crime scene.

Investigators believe the he have targeted another Henry Ford student girl that day, but details about that incident were not immediately released.

Although they're formally calling him a "person of interest" in the case,

"This individual is a sexual predator. This isn't a crime of passion, it's a crime of power, and we think we have the right guy," Dolunt said. "The whole purpose of this press conference is to allay the fears of the people in the community that we believe we have the suspect in custody."

Dolunt said police do have physical evidence linking the man to the crime.

His name will be released once he's arraigned on formal charges.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.