Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Police Department
Willie Charles Hale
By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — Fast response by city police and eyewitness identification combined for the arrest of a 58-year-old Detroit man shortly after he allegedly stabbed a woman in the parking lot of a supermarket.
Willie Charles Hale was taken into custody shortly after police received a call at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 27 that a woman had been attacked in the parking lot of Aldi, 1200 Southield Road.
According to police reports, the woman was in the parking lot talking on her phone when a man opened her car door and began stabbing at her with a silver knife. The woman put her arms up in defense but sustained several stabbing injuries to her face. The woman kicked at the man and began honking her car horn, and the man backed away and ran behind a nearby drug store.
Responding police were told that a witness to the attack had been following the man. A nearby officer located Hale in front of 900 Fort Street, wearing clothing that matched descriptions provided by the woman.
Hale was “sweaty and out of breath” according to police reports, and was identified as the suspect by a witness. A silver, red and black knife were found in his pocket.
Hale was taken to the station, and on Dec. 29 a bench warrant was issued. Hale was arraigned in 25th District Court Jan. 7, and bound over for arraignment in Wayne County CIrcuit Court on Tuesday.
Hale was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
According to court records, Hale has a criminal history dating back to 1979 and has served prison sentences for breaking an entering, carrying a concealed weapon, escaping prison and other felonies.
Most recently he had finished serving more than 12 years for assault with a dangerous weapon and was discharged in 2011.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])