Woman facing charges for pedestrian striking spree to be evaluated

A Lake Orion lady who struck pedestrians together with her car in a collection of incidents in Oakland and Macomb counties final month throughout what authorities say was a psychological well being disaster has been referred for a psychological competency analysis.

Choose Suzanne Faunce of the thirty seventh District Courtroom in Warren ordered Tuesday that Rachele Marie Ricklefs, 30, bear an examination to find out whether or not she understands the fees towards her and might help in her protection.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido mentioned in a information launch: “Earlier than the case can proceed, the court docket should decide whether or not the suspect is competent to face trial. Our workplace respects that course of, however our dedication to in search of justice stays steadfast.”

If she is discovered to be incompetent, Ricklefs will go to the state Forensic Psychiatry Middle close to Ypsilanti, the place she might be handled. Psychological well being consultants will attempt to restore her competency inside 15 months so she will be able to face the fees.

If she is discovered competent, her case will proceed instantly, at which level her lawyer, Macomb County Assistant Public Defender Noel Erinjeri, can request an analysis of her psychological state on the time of the incidents, referred to as a felony duty analysis. That might result in an madness plea.

Ricklefs faces 19 expenses — together with 10 counts of tried homicide — for an hours-long assault on Sept. 26 that began in Royal Oak, continued to Clawson and Hazel Park and ended at a number of places in Warren, the newest close to the Walmart retailer at Van Dyke and 12 Mile Street.

Ricklets’ 6-year-old daughter was current all through the episode in her black 2019 Jeep Compass, whereas her 12-year-old son managed to flee the car in the course of the second incident in Clawson.

Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski mentioned on the time that all the victims have been “miraculously” in secure situation shortly afterwards. Lucido known as the collection of incidents “very disturbing.”

Investigators mentioned psychological well being consultants have indicated that Ricklefs might have suffered a schizophrenic episode.

Along with the ten tried homicide expenses, which carry a most sentence of life in jail, Ricklefs faces two counts of third-degree fleeing police, malicious destruction of police or hearth property and malicious destruction of non-public property, in addition to one rely every of assault with a harmful weapon, resisting arrest and fourth-degree baby abuse.

Ricklefs, who’s being held in lieu of $750,000 bail, faces a competency listening to in Warren District Courtroom on Dec. 2, at which era the decide will rule on competency as soon as the analysis report is accomplished.

In line with police and prosecutors, the incidents started round 8:15 p.m. on September 26 in downtown Royal Oak, the place police mentioned Ricklefs, driving her 2019 Jeep Compass, struck a male bicycle owner at 11 Mile Street and Fundamental Avenue. That sufferer had no severe accidents.

Within the subsequent incident, Clawson police encountered Ricklefs experiencing a psychological episode round 9:45 p.m. She allegedly backed her car right into a Clawson patrol automotive, fled, returned and struck one other patrol automotive. She then drove in direction of an officer, who averted a collision. Police chased Ricklefs, who left the scene.

At roughly 10:50 p.m., Ricklefs allegedly ran over an grownup man together with her automotive in a enterprise car parking zone on 9 Mile Street and shortly fled. A minute later, Hazel Park Police responded to 10 Mile and Dequindre roads for a pedestrian accident the place Ricklefs was seen deliberately putting one other pedestrian.

Ten minutes after that, police say Ricklefs drove onto the grass close to 14 Mile Street and Van Dyke Avenue, the place she deliberately struck two pedestrians earlier than driving away. A couple of minutes later, she drove into the car parking zone of a close-by enterprise and ran over an worker.

Ricklefs fled once more and traveled south on Van Dyke, the place she struck one other male pedestrian crossing the road close to Conference Boulevard.

Police mentioned Ricklefs was driving south on Van Dyke, the place she drove towards different pedestrians close to the Walmart at Van Dyke and 12 Mile Street round 11 p.m. There, witnesses noticed Ricklefs intentionally run over a Walmart worker.

A Warren police officer arrived and tried to cease Ricklefs as she fled in her automotive. Police mentioned she then struck two extra pedestrians and their autos earlier than being arrested. Throughout her arrest, she resisted by trying to chunk and kick officers, who have been ultimately capable of take her into custody at 11:08 p.m.

Initially printed: October 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM EDT