ROSEVILLE, Mich. (WXYZ) — You’ve probably seen the pictures and even video of a guy going around metro Detroit asking people for money. Many felt threatened. Some alleged the guy was trying to lure women into his car. These posts have gotten more than 35,000 shares and thousands more comments.
Steve Crane owns ACS Investigations and the Facebook posts and then followed the guy on the road for two days with cameras rolling.
“We decided to get involved when we accidentally ran into him at a gas station,” Crane said.
One woman posted, “What’s most disturbing is him trying to lure women into his car.”
That post got 35,000 shares.
According to police, there’s no evidence proving the man was trying to lure women. In fact, another woman posted and told 7 Action News, the man approached her and told her to come over and look at his gas gauge, that’s why he needed money. Then another man, a stranger stepped in and punched the panhandler. The woman posted a picture of him holding his face.
Only 7 Action News cameras were rolling when Roseville police impounded his car and took him into custody Wednesday night.
We’re not naming the man until he’s formally charged. Action News went to his house and talked with him at the front door. He confirmed the arrest saying, “Yeah, it was for driving on a suspended license. I’ll never drive again.”
The private investigation video also shows him driving to Detroit and making what appears to be a drug buy on the street.
“It’s a clear hand to hand transaction," said private investigator Steve Crane. "And I thought I could at least tell people on social media that maybe he’s not luring women to the vehicle, but maybe he has a serious problem and someone can get him some help.”
We asked the guy how does he explain his actions and the videos. He says, “I’ve been through all that, it’s fake news!”
He added, “(But) not anymore, and if there’s any video out there it’s fabricated. I’m an educated person, I went to U of M, Wayne State grad school. I’m just—we’ll be fine.”
We asked where’s his car that was impounded. He said he would be getting it tomorrow and included, “You won’t hear anything else about anybody because I’m staying away from people.”
The ticket required him to be in court late next month.
