A late-night drive from Pontiac to Green Oak Township turned into a nightmare, according to police, who say two men held a woman in their car for hours and repeatedly beat her with tools before she fled to a stranger’s front door for help.
Investigators say the woman was assaulted with pliers and a wrench during the ordeal and suffered multiple broken bones and deep cuts. One suspect was arrested the next morning while driving the same vehicle officers were searching for, and the second was picked up in Warren, according to police. The case is still very much open.
Police account of the ordeal
Green Oak Township police told WXYZ the men allegedly picked the woman up in Pontiac and held her in their car for about three to four hours, stopping several times along the way while continuing to assault her as they drove toward Green Oak Township.
According to officers, the suspects eventually pulled off near Marshall Road and Nine Mile Road, then forced the woman to walk south into a darker area while threatening to kill her if she tried to go another way. Police say she managed to break away and run to a nearby home, where the homeowner called 911.
Legal context in Michigan
Michigan law treats aggravated assaults and crimes involving people in domestic relationships as serious felonies, and lawmakers recently expanded which offenses can be charged as domestic-related. The Michigan Legislature’s record on Public Act 199 of 2023 lays out those added offenses and penalties, which prosecutors may look to when considering charges in cases involving repeated assaults with weapons.
Investigators plan to send their full case file to the county prosecutor, who will decide on formal charges and any upcoming court dates.
Arrests and next steps
According to WXYZ, both men are being held at the Livingston County Jail and face multiple felony counts. The outlet reports that officers located one suspect in Green Oak Township and later arrested the second in Warren.
Police say the victim was taken to a local hospital, where she gave investigators detailed descriptions of the suspects and the car involved. Authorities have not released the men’s names or listed the specific charges, and Green Oak Township police say their investigation is ongoing.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support and resources, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at thehotline.org or by calling 1-800-799-7233.
