4 arrested, 1 wanted in break-in, rape

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Four people are in police custody after allegedly breaking into a Grand Rapids northwest-side residence and sexually assaulting a young woman. Police are still looking for one more man they say was involved.

James Edward Hodges, 19, of Grand Rapids is still wanted in connection to the sexual assault and break-in. GRPD Capt. Jeffrey Hertel said authorities want him to turn himself in, but they are looking for him. He's described as a 5-foot-8, 120-pound black male with black hair and brown eyes.

Another three adult males and a juvenile male -- all of Grand Rapids -- were taken into custody over the course of two days, Hertel said.

The four adult males each face three counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault, four counts of armed robbery and one count of home invasion, Hertel said.

24 Hour News 8 sorted through Kent County jail, GRPD and Michigan State Police records to connect case numbers that show the three adults already arrested are Dorian Jones, age 20; Rederick Melton, age 20; and Brandon Towns, age 25.

Charges for the 14-year-old juvenile have not yet been determined.

The break-in and sexual assault happened in the 600 block of Veto Street NW, just blocks away from the Grand Valley State University Pew Campus.

The four college students living in the house moved in only a few weeks ago. Sunday night, the students living in the house held a party to kick off the summer. The party cleared out sometime before 4 a.m. and those that remained in the house went to sleep.

Police responded around 5:30 a.m. to the residence after receiving a call that a sexual assault had occurred.

The occupants of the house told police that four or five suspects broke into their house as they slept. The students were struck over the head with a weapon and tied up. A young woman was sexually assaulted.

"To have the individuals come into a house that they know there's people in there, break down the door with five of them, tie everybody up, then violently sexually assault a young lady -- a student here in our city -- and then take property, that's about as serious as it gets," said Hertel.

Hertel said the arrests were the result of "intensive investigation and the assistance of the public."

"This case has been troubling," said Hertel . "This is a case that has shaken even our most seasoned investigator in the family service team."

A team of more than a dozen detectives worked "'round the clock" to bring in the suspects, Hertel said.

"All of us have had sleepless nights. We go home and get an hour or two of sleep and come back," said Sgt. Kristen Rogers, who worked the case. "When you investigate a crime like this and how horrific it is for the victims, you want to catch who did it."

He also said that the special response team, detectives and their teams, patrol officers and the community came together to solve the crime. Hertel said community members came forward willingly and often with information that helped lead to the arrests.

Hertel called the suspects a "dangerous crew."

He said authorities have uncovered a similar method of operation in which the group gets invited to a party, scopes out a house and the property inside it, and then returns later to break in and rob the residence.

He said that's what happened the night of the Veto Street incident.

Hertel said he thinks authorities have identified everyone in the crew.

Jones's criminal record was clean until now. Towns has been in trouble before for larceny and burglary nearly a decade ago when he was still a teen. Melton's criminal record is short. It shows only a minor stolen property coviction six years ago.

John Pietrzyk lives next door to the residence where the crime occurred. He said he has been a little on edge since he heard what happened Monday.

"I'm sleeping much better," said Pietrzyk. "My neighborhood's more safe now that they've caught these guys."

Hertel said authorities "absolutely" suspect that the crew is responsible for several other robberies in various municipalities in Kent and Ottawa counties, including some church break-ins.

Investigators couldn't confirm which church break-ins they thought the men are responsible for, but 24 Hour News 8 has covered break-ins at churches in Grandville, Jenison and two in the Caledonia area in the past month alone.

Police also said the forensic team also played a huge part in their investigation. Identifying stolen items from various crime scenes was key in connecting the four men to other recent crimes.

Hertel said the Veto Street incident appears to be the first sexual assault they have committed.

"I'm sure there are several crimes we're not even aware of yet that they've committed," said Sgt. Rogers. "We still have to figure it out."

Jones, Melton and Towns are expected to be arraigned Friday. Hertel said the investigation continues.