Detroit police say suspect arrested in rape of 9-year-old Farmington Hills girl

Detroit — Investigators have arrested a man in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl, police in Detroit and Farmington Hills said.

The suspect was arrested at his workplace Thursday morning, a police source familiar with the investigation said. The arrest comes four days after police say the Farmington Hills girl was raped in a Detroit house Sunday.

“The safety of the victim, her family, and our community remain our top priority, along with the appropriate investigation and prosecution of the suspect," Farmington Hills police Chief Jeff King said in a Thursday press release.

The incident happened began about 4:30 p.m. Sunday as the girl was walking near Eight Mile and Grand River in Farmington Hills. She had been walking for a couple of hours and was lost, police said previously. She was lured by a man into a silver or white late-model Jeep Renegade, police said in a Thursday release.

"The incident escalated and the suspect attempted to sexually assault the victim, then forcefully abducted her," police said in the release said. "The suspect’s vehicle traveled east to a residence near Eight Mile Road and Berg Road in Detroit, where the suspect sexually assaulted and confined the victim."

The girl was "able to escape and was quickly rescued by a local resident who contacted authorities" at about 7:30 p.m., according to the release.

The girl was able to provide investigators with detailed information about her attacker, Detroit police Chief James White said at a press conference Wednesday. Detroit police, Farmington Hills police and the FBI launched a manhunt after obtaining her description of the man.

Citizens provided tips that allowed investigators to close in on the suspect, police said.

Police have not yet released the man's name.

ghunter@detroitnews.com

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Twitter: @GeorgeHunter_DN