Police: 'Not Enough Evidence' To Charge Suspected Child Predator In Abduction Attempt
ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - A 42-year-old suspected child predator who was arrested after leading police on a lengthy chase will be facing charges -- but not for any crimes involving children.
Cornel Barbat, of Clawson, was arraigned Sunday in Oakland County's 6th Circuit Court on one count of third-degree fleeing and eluding, and one count of resisting/obstructing a police officer. He was ordered jailed on a $10,000 bond ahead of a June 8 court date.
Royal Oak Police say the situation unfolded around 8:30 p.m. Friday after Barbat approached a woman and a 9-year-old child in the 700 block of Ottawa, along Rochester Road just south of 14 Mile Road.
According to police, Barbat displayed suspicious and unusual behavior, suggesting he might have been trying to lure the child into his Mercedes Benz SUV.
Officers responded to the area and located Barbat's vehicle, but he refused to pull over and initiated a chase. The slow-moving pursuit went through Royal Oak side streets onto Woodward Avenue and eventually to I-696.
Once Barbat entered the freeway, the pursuit was taken over by Michigan State Police. The chase came to an end when Barbat's vehicle crashed near I-696 and Van Dyke. At that point, troopers apprehended Barbat without further incident.
Police say the department's Criminal Investigations Division investigated the incident and determined there was not sufficient evidence to support an attempted child abduction charge.
Barbat, who has a history of mental illness, has no prior criminal history.
Police Chief Corrigan O'Donohue extended his appreciation to the troopers who took Barbat into custody.
"Police pursuits are always dangerous and we are grateful that the teamwork between our two agencies resulted in the safe arrest of a dangerous suspect," O'Donohue said in a statement.
