James David Dickson

The Detroit News

Washington Township — A good Samaritan helped an elderly man recover his vehicle after he was allegedly carjacked on Saturday morning.

The 78-year-old man had stopped at Macomb Orchard Trail to take a morning walk. Soon he was followed by a younger man, who said he was stranded and asked him for money. The older man said he didn’t have any and kept walking.

When the elderly man headed back toward his vehicle, a 2014 Ford F-150, the younger man, who police identify as Michael Garrett, 30, of Pontiac, is alleged to have pulled a knife.

The older man gave up his car keys and cellphone. Garrett is alleged to have stuffed his bike in the back of the victim’s truck before driving away.

Soon after, the victim flagged a passerby, who police say is a 46-year-old Washington Township resident. She allowed the elderly man into her vehicle and began following the man’s stolen truck.

Eventually, the woman and the victim found the man’s truck, with Garrett allegedly standing nearby.

The woman confronted Garrett, at which point he allegedly gave back both the phone and the car keys. He removed his bike from the back of the elderly man’s truck and headed back toward the scene of the alleged crime, the Macomb Orchard Trail, police say.

Macomb County sheriff’s deputies, using a department K-9 and an aviation unit, quickly spotted the alleged carjacker running from the back of a residence, and arrested him.

On Monday morning, Garrett was given a $250,000 cash-or-surety bond at his arraignment at 42nd District Court in Romeo.

Garrett, who police say is a parole absconder from the Oakland-Pontiac parole office, was charged with carjacking, which carries a potential life sentence, and with resisting and obstructing arrest. He is due back in court on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and is at Macomb County Jail in the meantime.

jdickson@detroitnews.com