Tagged: Detroit Police

Detroiters are hopeful police have found the person responsible for raping seven women on the city’s east side.

A “person of interest” is in police custody The man has not yet been charged. Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee says investigators are being careful not to rush things:

"We have 48 hours to present a warrant to the prosecutor. That is in any case. If it goes outside the scope of 48 hours, as in any case, we would have to have an exception that would allow us to do so."

In most cases, the women were waiting for a bus or walking near a bus stop when they were attacked.

New FBI crime figures show Detroit’s violent crime rate dropped significantly in the first half of this year.

FBI statistics show violent crimes in Detroit fell by about 8-percent from the first half of 2009.

The biggest reduction was in homicides (28%), which fell from 202 to 146. Robberies were also down about 9%.

The city did see jumps in rapes and arsons.

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee attributes the crime drop to a "data-based approach” to police deployment, and building partnerships with the community.