PITTSFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) — The hunt to find a man police say held a knife to a 7-year-old girl's throat at a Meijer in Pittsfield Township is over.
Melvin Frances Sroufe turned himself in to Washtenaw County deputies Monday night. He now sits in the county jail.
Investigators were able to quickly identify Sroufe as their suspect after he dropped his wallet in the parking lot, police say. It is alleged that the 57-year-old man grabbed the 7-year-old girl while she and her mother were putting groceries in their car. He demanded the mother get into her car or else he'd hurt her daughter.
This man, accused of holding a knife to a 7yo girls throat, turned himself in last night. He’s currently at the Washtenaw Co Jail. Now it’s up to prosecutors to review the case against him @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/bINLyRpHjP
— Ali Hoxie (@ali_hoxie) May 7, 2019
People in the Meijer parking lot saw what was happening and started yelling. That's when investigators say Sroufe took off, dropping his wallet. It was a witness who placed the 911 call.
The Sheriff's Office says it's now up to Washtenaw County prosecutors to review the case against Sroufe and charge him with a crime.
If charged, he would face a judge for an arraignment in the coming days.
No word yet on how the young girl is doing.
Stay with Action News for updates.
