Judge Alarmed By 'Huge Uptick' In Carjackings
DETROIT (WWJ) - A Wayne County judge is concerned about what he calls a dramatic increase in violent crimes that involve young people.
Wayne County Circuit Judge Edward Ewell Jr. told WWJ Newsradio 950's Vickie Thomas that armed carjackings, especially with young men as the perpetrators, have been crowding his docket.
Carjacking Cases
One case before him right now involves two missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who were victimized in Detroit.
"After doing their mission work they thought they had met up with some nice guys and played basketball with them. By the time the game had ended and they were going to leave the young men they were just playing with, who rode up on bicycles, took their vehicle and laptop and phone," Ewell said.
"That have been, you know, affected for life. I'm sure anyone who has a gun put on them and their property stolen -- even for a moment they don't know what's goin' on, what may happen," Ewell said. "For them, here are these young men who (are) out doing, quote, God's work, and they and up getting their car stolen."
One of the missionaries, Ewell said, was so traumatized, he cut his work in Detroit short and went back to Utah.
