Man Charged in Attempted Child Abduction, Sexual Assault
A girl walking in Royal Oak was was grabbed from behind and fondled by a man Saturday, police said. Police arrested a 24-year-old man shortly after.
Police arrested a 24-year-old Bloomfield Hills man on Saturday afternoon after he reportedy fondled and attempted to abduct a 14-year-old Royal Oak girl.
Around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the girl was walking in the area of Normandy and Tonawanda and was approached by a suspect driving a silver Chevrolet Camaro.
According to police, the man asked the girl if she wanted a ride and some marijuana. The girl refused and continued walking toward her home. She also called her mother on her cell phone to report the encounter.
A short time later, the girl was approached from behind by the suspect. The man grabbed her, picked her up and fondled her, police said. The girl began screaming and told her mother, over the phone, to call the police.
The girl struggled to free herself and the man eventually dropped her and ran back to his vehicle, according to police.
"The 14-year-old is fine, although she is a bit shaken up," Royal Oak Police Lt. Tom Goad said on Tuesday.
Just prior to this incident, Royal Oak officers were in the area and had observed a silver Camaro parked in a suspicious manner, Goad said.
Goad said the officers logged the license plate and were checking the area for any criminal activity when officers saw a man run to the Camaro and drive away at a high rate of speed just as a radio broadcast of the attempted abduction was dispatched.
Police said the officers quickly turned around and tried to catch up to the man’s vehicle but due to the traffic and the reckless driving of the suspect, they were unable to catch up to the vehicle and lost sight of it on northbound Woodward.
The vehicle was registered out of Bloomfield Hills and Royal Oak and Bloomfield Hills officers responded to that address.
The suspect, Derek Joseph Wallin, 24, of Bloomfield Hills, was identified and arrested at the Bloomfield Hills home.
Wallin has been charged with attempted kidnapping, a five-year felony, and criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, a two-year misdemeanor. He was arraigned on Monday at 44th District Court before Judge Terrence Brennan. Bond was set at $100,000.
The incident shocked many Royal Oak residents, but some expressed that they were impressed with the quick work of the police.
"That's horrible, thank God she was able to call her mom and the police were in the area," said John Rasmussen of Royal Oak on Tuesday. "I never leave my kids alone or let them go anywhere unless they have a cell phone on them."
"The cops did an amazing job. I'm so glad they caught the guy," said Tina Stefanski of Royal Oak. She said the incident gave her the chills.
RO'er
1:44 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Why is this a breaking news alert 3 days after ing incident????
Chris Pariseau
2:36 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Why wasn't notices sent to parents? Granted...I just got an email today from the city, but even though the guy was caught, notifications should have gone home through the schools asap reminding parents to tell their kids to be vigilant. Even when we tell our kids, it drives home the message when you can say..."It just happened". We have a parent notification system in place.
Nancy Barnett
8:18 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
I was just thinking the very same thing. I recieved an e-mail from the city today regarding this incident.I certainly hope this sick individual is prosecuted to the fullest extent. It will be interesting to find out what kind of history this man has. These type of people are usually habitual,and have no self control.Good thing that the victim faught back.It could have been much worse and gone into a full blown rape. Kids need to know to call the police first,these cell phones all have GPS's,and then call the parents. Time to get out the pepper spray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ronald Wolf
11:08 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
This is very sad. I will have to hear more about this young man who obviously comes from an advantaged background and should have had the sense not to throw his young life away. As for the young girl, she is lucky she had her head on her shoulders and did the right things. In these days of drugs and excessive drinking for which RO is just one of many urban and suburban magnets for RO's young females especially when walking alone need to be taught to take extra precautions, This type of occurance is no longer just a Detroit, or college town phenomenon.
The flooding of the tube with this subject apparently could be one reason we are seeing so much of life imitating the new video games, CSI and realtiy shows where little is held back.
Robin Lyman
12:31 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012
The school superintendent sent out an email to parents on Tuesday night about the incident. Happy that ROPD was in the area and made note of the car and this ended quickly. It was a reminder to keep having the talk about how strangers come in so many different forms and what to do.
Carmella
3:28 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
this is the first I've heard of it and I have children
Big Truth
12:43 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Such a shame! He's a very attractive young man who would've had scads of 17 year old girls and guys crawling all over him. He certainly has a lack of good judgement.
Lisa Ross
3:39 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
His family just paid the 100,000.00 bail and got him out of Oakland County Jail 30 min ago. So he gets to be free and enjoy his home until trial... if he even goes. If he were my son (and I do have a 23 yo son), I'd want to be sure that he remained incarcerated as long as possible, not only for the protection of the public, but for his own as well. 100,000.00...way to enable, Mom and dad.