FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) - One man is in custody after Farmington Hills Police say he assaulted another man at a YMCA.
Police were called to the YMCA at 28100 Farmington Road at around 10:45 a.m. on March 1. According to a statement released by the FHPD, 911 calls were made reporting an “assault in progress.”
An 80-year-old West Bloomfield Township man was found unconscious in the men’s locker room with “severe” injuries to his face, according to the statement.
A 41-year–old West Bloomfield Township man told officers that he saw the suspect assaulting the victim when he entered the locker room. He said the victim was bleeding and unconscious when he came into the locker room.
“The second subject told police that he immediately intervened and pulled the suspect off the injured man, at which time the suspect attacked the good Samaritan, who was able to fight the suspect off,” the statement said.
The suspect allegedly left the scene on foot.
Police were able to identify the suspect, a 20-year-old man, by using membership records.
The search for the suspect was made of uniformed and plain clothes police, surveillance teams, a drone and a K9 unit from the Southfield Police Department.
Local schools had precautionary lockdowns during the search. Authorities said the lockdown was to “ensure that the fleeing suspect did not attempt to gain entry to school buildings.” The public was also sent an Everbridge message to alert them about the situation.
The suspect was found after a citizen noticed him and called the police. The suspect was arrested on Parkhill Street near 12 Mile Road.
The suspect is in custody while detectives investigate. The findings of the investigation will be given to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for charges stemming from the incident.
The victim was taken to a local hospital. He is listed in serious but stable condition.
“I’d like to thank the good Samaritan for taking action to stop the suspect in the midst of a vicious assault, and I’d also like to thank the vigilant citizen for calling 911 when they observed the suspect attempting to conceal himself from police,” Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King said in a written statement. “These actions demonstrate the pride citizens have in the safety of our community and the strong relationship our department enjoys with our community members. Our officers and dispatchers acted swiftly and with outstanding professionalism to ensure appropriate aid to the victims and the eventual peaceful surrender of the suspect.”
The suspect’s identity will be withheld until criminal charges are filed.