Police: 4 Arrested After Man Ambushed, 'Held Captive' During Motel Rendezvous
HARRISON TWP. (WWJ) - Four Macomb County residents are facing multiple charges after police say they lured a man to a motel, robbed him and allegedly held him captive while demanding his banking information.
The situation unfolded just after 9 p.m. Sunday at the Ruth Motel on Jefferson Avenue in Harrison Township, just east of I-94.
A 31 year-old Wixom man told police he had arrangements to meet with a woman at the motel and when he arrived, he was brought to Room 9. Once there, he was let into the room by a second woman.
The victim told police that two men who were hiding in the bathroom suddenly emerged and proceeded to punch him several times. The victim said the men took his wallet with $150 in cash, his cell phone, his watch and a knife.
After taking his property, the men then held the victim down and demanded that he give them his bank account information, according to police.
The victim told police that he was "held captive" for approximately a half-hour before he was able to convince the assailants that he would go to his bank and retrieve money, then bring it back. Police say the two men allegedly threatened the victim, saying they had his address and if he did not return with money, they would come to his house and find him.
The attackers eventually let the victim leave the motel room, according to police, and he immediately drove across the street to a 7-Eleven store and called 911.
As Macomb County Sheriff's deputies were responding to the scene, they observed two people running from the back of the Ruth Motel and started searching the area for suspects.
Investigators learned that one of the suspects was wearing a GPS tether and, with the help of the Michigan Department of Corrections, deputies were able to establish that one of the men was now located on Lamour Street, not far from the Ruth Motel. Numerous deputies responded to the area and located two of the suspects: a man who was wearing the tether and a woman. They were taken into custody without further incident.
Meanwhile, other deputies at the Ruth Motel located the other two suspects hiding in the back seat of a Ford Focus that was parked behind the motel. They were also taken into custody without further incident.
On Monday, prosecutors authorized charges on all four suspects:
• 34-year-old Alphonse Grzelakowski Jr, of Roseville
• 25-year-old Joseph Kratz, of Warren
• 24-year-old Dana Rose Withers, of Warren
• 31-year-old Nichole Lynn Harbison, of Warren
All four suspects were charged with one count of unarmed robbery and one count of unlawful imprisonment. All remain jailed on $15,000 cash-or-surety bonds, and are due back in court on March 7.
