DEARBORN — Police arrested and charged Ezra Rodriguez Jr.,17, of Detroit April 14 in connection with multiple crimes committed April 7.
Police said that on April 7, a woman was approached about 9 p.m. by Rodriguez, who demanded money and her wallet and forced her into the passenger seat of her car.
He than drove to several locations where the woman was able to escape at Patton Park located near Vernor and Dix, police said. She then called for help.
Shortly after, police were able to locate the unoccupied vehicle in the area of Livernois and Otis in Detroit.
On April 14, police arrested Rodriguez at a house in the area of Michigan Avenue and Livernois in Detroit with help of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rodriguez was arrested with the help of informational fliers which included a sketch depicting the perpetrator posted in neighborhoods in and around Dearborn and Detroit.
At his arraignment on April 15 in 19th District Court before Judge Sam Salamey, Rodriguez was charged with carjacking, kidnapping, armed robbery, felony firearm and criminal sexual conduct. He could face a maximum penalty up to life in prison if convicted.
Rodriquez is being held on a $1 million bond with a preliminary examination of the evidence against him scheduled for at 9 a.m. May 1 in 19th District Court before the case moves to the Wayne County Circuit Court.
“After receiving countless tips from the community, our detectives worked tirelessly along with our surveillance team, to put together a case and obtain the necessary warrants for an arrest with the help of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office,” Police Chief Ronald Haddad said. “Dearborn’s Special Operations officers monitored the suspect around the clock and formulated an arrest plan with our partners in the U.S. Marshals Service to safely apprehend the suspect during this incident.”