It was a frightening morning at the Pine Hills Apartments in Howell Thursday. Police responded to a report of an alleged assault at the apartment complex, located in the southwest corner of the city near the Pepsi plant.
Authorities found a woman shirtless and barefoot outside in temperatures barely into double digits. The woman reportedly said she jumped from a window to escape a rape, and that her 2-year-old son was inside the apartment with the suspect, who was reportedly armed.
As police established a perimeter around the apartment, they smelled gas, which prompted the evacuation of the building; the Howell Area Fire Department shut off the gas to the building as a precaution during the evacuation.
Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect in the apartment; an open window allowed them to get the 2-year-old boy out. After getting a search warrant to enter the apartment, police found no one inside.
According to reports, the investigation is still active, so police aren’t releasing any further information at this time, except to say there is no threat to the public.
