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GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Grosse Pointe Woods detectives are still investigating after a resident reported that he was the victim of an attempted kidnapping by an unknown assailant.
The victim, a 20-year-old Grosse Pointe Woods man, told police that he was walking his dog in the 2100 block of Lennon Street at around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 12 when he said the suspect dragged him toward a white work van — possibly a Ford Econoline model — with whited-out windows. The victim told police he hit the suspect, enabling him to get away.
For reasons unknown to police, the victim didn’t report the incident until four days later, on Oct. 16, making finding a possible suspect more challenging.
Woods Public Safety Director John Kosanke said they have information from the victim, but despite the fact that more homeowners now have surveillance systems and doorbell cameras, police thus far haven’t been able to track down any footage showing the incident or the van. There have been no reports of similar incidents, or the white work van, since the victim filed his report with police, Kosanke said.
The Woods Public Safety Department isn’t calling the case a hoax, but some residents have speculated that the incident might not have happened. Kosanke said detectives are still investigating the incident.
“We take people at their word and look into what they’re telling us,” Kosanke said. “We don’t have anything to say this did or didn’t happen.”
From the report the victim gave police, the incident appears to have been targeted toward the victim and not been an attempted dog-napping. Certain popular breeds of dogs, include English bulldogs and French bulldogs, have been stolen from residents in the Pointes and elsewhere in recent years, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
The victim told police he wasn’t injured during the kidnapping attempt and also had no blood or visible injuries on him when he filed his report with police, Kosanke said.
As of press time early the week of Oct. 24, police were still seeking leads from anyone who might have more information about the suspect or the suspect’s vehicle.
“We continue to look into it,” Kosanke said. “We haven’t received any tips (yet).”
The victim described the suspect as a 40- to 45-year-old, clean-shaven white man of medium build and roughly 6 feet tall. He said the suspect was wearing black pants, a black jacket and black winter hat at the time of the incident.
Anyone with more information about this incident should contact the Woods Public Safety Department at (313) 343-2410 or gpwdetectives@gpwmi.us.
