Monroe Schools Lockdown Lifted; Abduction Suspect Still On Lam
MONROE (WWJ) - Three people are in custody in Monroe and a fourth is being sought following a kidnapping Friday morning.
A lockdown has been lifted from three schools in Monroe after police called off a massive search for an abduction suspect in the area.
Police said the precautionary lockdown ended around 10:45 a.m. at Monroe Middle School, St. John Catholic School and Trinity Lutheran School. Bobb Vergiels, a Monroe Public Schools spokesperson, said Friday is the last day of school for students, who are expected to be released on time at 11:15 a.m. after a half-day of classes.
Police say the schools went into lockdown mode just before 8 a.m. Friday after one of four suspects involved in an abduction evaded capture. The other three suspects are currently in custody.
The suspect on the run is described as a black male in his early 20's, about 6-foot tall, with a stocky build, close cut hairstyle and a facial tattoo. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans.
Police say the suspect was last seen near W. Third and Smith streets. A sweatshirt he dropped while running away has been recovered. Police say the man is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call Monroe police at 734-243-7519.
According to the Monroe Evening News, a boyfriend and girlfriend were abducted early Friday morning, apparently over an unpaid debt.
Police say four armed men broke into the couple's apartment in the 100 block of W. Front Street, bound the victims and apparently assaulted the male. The suspects then took the female from the apartment, against her will, and drove to the neighboring community of Newport in an apparent attempt to look for someone else connected to the case, police said.
Police say the individual in Newport was located by the suspects and possibly assaulted and robbed. The suspects then left the location with the original victim.
As the group made their way back to Monroe, police were notified of the situation and went to the couple's apartment. Police arrived on the scene and arrested three of the suspects, while a fourth suspect took off running. A handgun was recovered by police at the scene.
A subsequent search of the area, which included members of the Monroe County Special Response Team, canine units and the sheriff's helicopter, was unable to locate the suspect who fled.
Police say the female victim knows at least one of the suspects. An investigation is ongoing.
