BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — A suspect is in custody after an attempted child abduction was reported in Brighton Township.
Watch Randy Wimbley's video report:
According to Michigan State Police, a man contacted police to report that another man approached his 8-year-old daughter on Wednesday around 7 p.m. while she was riding her bike on Rosemary Lane in the Alger Pine subdivision near Old US-23.
The man reportedly asked the child to come into the woods for “a surprise.”
MSP says the girl’s father reported that the suspect tried to lure the girl with her bicycle into a wooded area before he confronted him and asked what he was doing.
State police 1st Lt. Rene Gonzalez says it was an extremely close call.
“I think she just made the right call by finding her mom and telling her what's going on,” Gonzales said. “Dad went out and looked for this guy. The girl was able to give a real good description of the suspect. He confronted the guy, asked him what he was doing. The guy didn't say anything, and that is when he had snapped a picture of the subject."
The suspect, who was wearing an ID from a pest control company, fled the area on a Segway-type vehicle. That strange detail immediately stood out to neighbor Zachary Coykendall.
Coykendall believes he met the suspect earlier when the man pitched pest control services at his home. He immediately contacted investigators, shared the salesman's information and then called the company.
“Yeah, I immediately called and canceled our service through the company that I think that it could be because I can't have that risk anywhere near our house like I said with having a 3-year-old daughter,” Coykendall said.
Detectives canvassed the neighborhood and quickly identified the suspect. They arrested him Thursday at a hotel in Auburn Hills, but the investigation is far from over.
“So at this time, they're actually obtaining search warrants to search the hotel room and the suspect's vehicle for anything else, see if there's any past crimes, any evidence of the crime that occurred yesterday. So, they're still working this through. It's not a closed case since he's in custody,” Gonzalez said.
Neighbors were stunned by the bold attempt.
“Horrible. Absolutely horrible. Just so sad. Kids should be able to play outside, run around and not have to worry about these thing,” neighbor Nicole Micunek said.
Police say the suspect could be arraigned as early as Friday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the MSP Brighton Post at 810-227-1051.
