ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - A man who authorities say was wanted in relation to a sexual assault had to be pulled out of a freezing pond after fleeing from police.
At around 9:30 p.m. on March 19, police were called to the 3600 block of Partridge Path in Ann Arbor because of a man “attempting to open car doors in an apartment complex parking lot,” a press release from the Ann Arbor Police Department said.
When officers approached the man, he allegedly ran from them and towards a small pond. He entered the pond and began swimming away, the statement said.
Police spent several minutes trying to get the man to come back to the shore, but he stayed in the “neck deep” water for several minutes. It was noticed that the man was “shivering uncontrollably,” at which point the officers went into the water and pulled him out.
The man was identified as 36-year-old Miguel Angel Aparicio-Navas, who had an active warrant in connection to a 2023 sexual assault, according to the statement. He was also allegedly a suspect in a 2021 sexual assault.
The statement said that a 27-year-old woman was walking near Frisinger Park on Sept. 24, 2023. She was allegedly approached from behind by an unknown man, who wrapped his arms around her in a “bear hugging manner.” He then allegedly “lowered his hands and forcibly grabbed her genitalia.” She suffered minor injuries when she attempted to free herself.
Officers were unable to locate the suspect at the time, but detectives were reportedly able to identify the suspect as Aparicio-Navas based on evidence obtained later.
The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office charged Aparicio-Navas with criminal sexual conduct - assault with intent to commit sexual penetration and criminal sexual conduct - fourth degree on March 8.
Aparicio-Navas was arraigned on March 21, where he was given a bond of $100,00 with no 10%.
He is currently being held at the Washtenaw County Jail.