ANN ARBOR (WWJ) – Three young Washtenaw County men are facing a long list of charges for a string of early morning crimes last week, including the armed robbery of two women on a downtown Ann Arbor sidewalk.
Shawn Hastings of Saline, Gabriel Escobar of Ann Arbor and Christian Reyes of Ypsilanti were all arraigned over the weekend on multiple charges stemming from the alleged incidents Thursday morning. Bond was set at $2 million for all three suspects.
Ann Arbor police officers were called to the 200 block of S. Main Street around 2:15 a.m. on Sept. 21 after two women, ages 33 and 29, reported they were robbed. The women told police they were standing on the sidewalk when they saw "an old grayish/blue vehicle" do a U-turn on Main.
After the car parked near them, two young men jumped out and approached them. The driver was armed with a long gun, while the passenger was wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife, according to police.
The suspects demanded cash from the women and drove away once they got it. Both women were unharmed in the incident.
Less than five minutes after getting the call from the women, an officer spotted a vehicle matching the description at a gas station on Main Street, with the passenger inside wearing a green ski mask.
A police chase ensued as the Chevy Cruze took off on W. William Street, before crashing about a mile away at Allmendinger Park, according to police. Escobar and Reyes ran form the scene, while Hastings stayed in the car. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries from the crash.
Authorities also found a rifle at the scene.
During the course of their investigation, police learned of an attempted home invasion on Arbordale Street – about 2 miles from the scene of the sidewalk robbery – that happened about 15 minutes prior to the report of their first call.
A 28-year-old man told police he heard his car alarm around 2 a.m., followed by someone banging on his front door. When he opened the door, two suspects confronted him and one tried to forcibly enter his home. He managed to fight them off and lock his door, officials said. They took off after allegedly damaging the man's car.
The suspects were eventually identified as the same men who robbed the women on Main.
Reyes was eventually arrested after officers found him walking on Main. He also had outstanding warrants for his arrest, though the details of the warrants were not disclosed. Escobar was arrested Friday afternoon.
Hastings, 20, and Escobar, 18, were arraigned Saturday. They were each charged with armed robbery, first-degree attempted home invasion and resisting and obstructing a police officer. Hastings was charged with an additional count of malicious destruction of property
Reyes was arraigned on charges of armed robbery, first-degree attempted home invasion, third-degree fleeing and eluding and resisting and obstructing a police officer.
It was not clear if the crimes are connected to a string of home invasions in Ann Arbor back in August.
