Suspect in custody after 80-year-old man beaten at YMCA

A 20-year-old man was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting an 80-year-old man at a YMCA located at 28100 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills March 1.

According to a press release from the city of Farmington Hills, at approximately 10:45 a.m. there were 911 calls reporting an assault in progress.

Officers from the Farmington Hills Police Department reportedly arrived on-scene to find the 80-year-old man, who is a resident of West Bloomfield Township, unconscious with severe facial injuries in the men’s locker room. 

A second subject, a 41-year-old male resident, also of West Bloomfield, reported to officers that he had entered the locker room and saw a man actively assaulting the victim, who was already unconscious and bleeding on the floor.  

The witness told police that he immediately intervened and pulled the suspect off of the injured man, at which time the suspect attacked him instead.

The Good Samaritan was able to fight off the suspect, who proceeded to flee the scene on foot.

Through membership records, officers were able to identify the suspect.

The suspect was reportedly shirtless and wearing black shorts and shoes.

 Uniformed officers, plain clothes detectives, surveillance teams and a drone were deployed in the search of the suspect. 

A Southfield Police Department K-9 unit also responded to assist with the ground search for the suspect.

Along with an Everbridge message being sent to alert the public of the incident, local schools were contacted to request a lockdown, the release states.

A civilian called 911 to report that the suspect was on Parkhill Street, north of 12 Mile Road.

He was then taken into custody without incident, according to the release.

Upon completion of an investigation, the Farmington Hills Police Department intends to refer the matter to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for possible charges.

The 80-year-old victim was transported to a hospital, where he is reportedly 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 stated via the release. “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 release states that additional information regarding the suspect’s identity will be released following the authorization of criminal charges.