Police: Suspect Beat, Threatened Man He Met At Gay Bar

FERNDALE (WWJ) -  After a two day search, Ferndale police caught a man Wednesday who allegedly used a shower curtain to try to strangle a man he met in a gay bar.

Investigators learned of the incident at about 7:45 p.m. on Halloween when they found a 44-year-old man who had been severely beaten at a home on Farmdale Street.

The man said two days earlier he met 38-year-old Alesandro Signorelli at Adam's Apple, a gay bar in the Warren and Southfield area of Detroit. The man said Signorelli spent the night at his house and left in the morning. Signorelli returned in the early morning hours of Oct. 31 and the man again allowed him to spend the night.

Later in the morning, when the man had to go to work, Signorelli reportedly punched him in the face repeatedly. During the fight, Signorelli grabbed a shower curtain and wrapped it around the man's head, causing him to have difficulty breathing. The man said Signorelli finally let go after he agreed to give him prescription drugs and cash.

Investigators said while threatening the man with a kitchen knife, Signorelli instructed him to gather the drugs, money and several other items, including a television.

WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson.

"He told him to stack some other items in the house near the rear door as if he was going to seal those items and our victim used this opportunity, when he got near the rear door, to flee," said Wilson.

"He was beat up, he was scared, ran to the neighbor's banged on the door and asked for them to call for help, and then the neighbor did call 911," he said.

Police said Signorelli fled the area in his parent's stolen 2000 Red F-150 pick-up truck, Michigan plate XFL68.

The victim was treated and released later from the hospital. He suffered cuts and contusions.

Police said Signorelli was recently released from prison and is on parole for a 2002 armed robbery charge. Citizens should not approach Signorelli as he has an extensive criminal history that includes violent criminal acts.

Signorelli was arrested in Detroit and is expected to be transferred to Ferndale to face charges.