By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – When a 29-year-old Detroit man drove to Melvindale, at his ex-girlfriend’s request for a ride, and she dismissed him upon arrival, the two argued, and she took his car, police said.
The 24-year-old woman, who was living at Coogan Terrace, 3501 Oakwood, had called her ex-boyfriend the night of Dec. 29 to drive her to her mother’s house to pick up a vehicle. However, when he arrived, she said she had another ride lined up, and no longer needed his help.
He got out of his car, approached her, and asked her to reimburse him the cost of his gas to drive there, and, according to witnesses, the two began to argue.
Witnesses said she spat in his face, then got into his car and started driving it recklessly around the Coogan Terrace parking lot, then jumped the curb, as if she intended to damage it. However, she then took off in the vehicle, driving west on Oakland Boulevard.
When police officers arrived, they were given a description of the car and driver. However, they were unable to find the blue 2009 Chevrolet HHR, and returned to Coogan Terrace to take statements from witnesses.
The victim was unable to reach the woman by phone. However, she answered a call from a police officer, who asked her to return the car, and who said no charges would be pressed.
She, however, said she would not return with the car, and said “the police were going to entrap me and just take me to jail.” She claimed that she planned to return the car to her ex-boyfriend’s mother’s residence in Detroit.
The man then stated that he was willing to press charges, and Dearborn Police Dispatch was notified of the vehicle and its description, and agreed to inform neighboring police departments. The vehicle was listed in the Law Enforcement Information Network as stolen, and the man was given a courtesy ride home.
The next afternoon, the man contacted the Melvindale Police Department, and said the vehicle had been returned to his mother’s house, with the keys, and no new damage. He said he no longer wished to press charges. The vehicle was then removed from LEIN as stolen.