By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — A local woman’s scream for help may, police believe, bring to justice an alleged serial rapist.
Elmore Nichols Jr., 52, was bound over for arraignment in Wayne County Circuit Court Tuesday following a preliminary exam held before 25th District Court Judge David Zelenak. Nichols remained in custody on $1 million bond pending Tuesday’s Circuit Court hearing.
Nichols is expected to be charged with three felonies related to an attempted rape on July 7. A 64-year-old woman told police she awoke at 5:30 a.m. when Nichols broke into her Electric Avenue home, climbed on top of her and tried to keep her quiet. When the woman screamed, the man ran out of the home; while the woman called 911, a patrol car in the neighborhood observed Nichols running through back yards, and soon located him in a Dodge Charger a few blocks away.
In District Court last month, Nichols was charged with felony home invasion, attempted rape and receiving and concealing stolen property: police found numerous credit cards belonging to other people in the Charger.
Investigating officers said that Nichols is a registered sex offender and had a lengthy criminal history. Nichols was reportedly being sought in connection with similar crimes in Southgate, Lincoln Park and in Oakland County.