PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A Grand Rapids man is in custody after authorities said he claimed to be a "hitman" during a home invasion on Friday.
Frank Youmans, 54, was arraigned Monday afternoon and is accused of forcing his way into the home of a 65-year-old Belmont woman in the area of Van Dam Drive and Packer Drive in Plainfield Township during the early morning hours on Friday, March 24.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office says the suspect, armed with a pistol, threatened to kill the woman in her home, and at some point choked her until she went unconscious.
The suspect is accused of taking her credit cards, and then using them later on at nearby stores.
The Sheriff's Office says an acquaintance found the woman tied up around 10 a.m., hours after the assault happened.
Investigators said they quickly determined this was a targeted incident, and nailed down a suspect and the vehicle he was driving.
"This person was known to the family and he specifically went there because of knowledge he had of the family," said Sheriff Michelle LaJoye Young.
Thanks to a statewide bulletin, the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office spotted the suspect vehicle abandoned on a two-track in the area.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office said they ultimately found the suspect walking near the intersection of Knapp Street and Pettis Avenue in Ada Township Sunday afternoon.
Detectives took him into custody without incident. He's expected to face charges of armed robbery, home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation and two gun charges.
"He had the capacity to kill her, he had a weapon, he strangled her," said LaJoye-Young. "So, I think that is what led to the charges being charged at this level right now. But certainly, we have to be open-minded to what we discover as the investigation continues."
Youmans has a $1 million cash bond and his next court appearance is on April 5.
Court records show Youmans was previously sentenced in Kent County in 1998 for Home Invasion-First Degree and two counts of Felonious Assault. He also has a slew of other charges including Fleeing a Police Officer, Habitual Offender and Possessing a Controlled Substance (Cocaine/Heroin/or another Narcotic).
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.