Teen charged with raping woman in car

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - An out-of-state 19-year-old was arrested and accused of raping a young woman as he drove her to her house in the early hours of Thursday.

Carlos Alberto Reyes-Velazquez was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and unarmed robbery for the incident that began in downtown Grand Rapids.

The 22-year-old woman called police around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. She told them she had gone downtown with her friends but became separated. As she was looking for them around Ionia and Fountain NE, a young man drove up and asked if she needed a ride home. She said yes and got into his four-door silver car, possibly a Toyota Corolla, police said.

As he drove along I-196 toward her house, he pulled onto the shoulder at Maryland Avenue and sexually assaulted her, then threw her out of the car and drove away, police said.

The woman walked to the East Beltline, called police and provided a good description of the suspect. She also provided them with information about some items he stole from her.

Reyes-Velazquez was arrested at a house on Eureka Avenue SE in Grand Rapids just after noon.

GRPD Capt. Jeffrey Hertel told 24 Hour News 8 there was no prior relationship between the young woman and Reyes-Velazquez. He is from out of state and is on bond for a similar crime.

Hertel also said police are looking at a similar case and other open cases for any possible connection.

The investigation continues. If you have any information, you're asked to contact the Grand Rapids police at 616.456.3604 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.