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Michigan woman accused of hitting at least 11 people with her Jeep

A Michigan woman accused of running down at least 11 people, including a police officer, with her Jeep in Warren, is facing 18 felony charges. 

Macomb County prosecutors accuse 30-year-old Rachele Ricklefs of Lake Orion of being involved in a series of hit-and-run incidents involving pedestrians in Royal Oak, Clawson, Hazel Park and Warren on Sept. 26. 

The first alleged incident happened around 8:15 p.m., when Royal Oak police responded to the area of 11 Mile Road and Main Street after a cyclist was struck by a dark-colored SUV. The driver, who was identified as Ricklefs, left the scene. The victim did not suffer serious injuries. 

Later that evening, around 9:45 p.m., Clawson police made contact with Ricklefs, who they say was experiencing a mental health episode. Police say that while speaking with Ricklefs, she reversed her Jeep into a patrol car, drove off, returned, and then struck another patrol vehicle before driving toward an officer. 

Warren police say Ricklefs drove away with her 6-year-old daughter inside the Jeep, but that her 12-year-old son escaped the SUV during the Clawson incident. 

After leaving Clawson, Warren police say Ricklefs allegedly hit a pedestrian in the area of 10 Mile Road and Dequindre in Hazel Park. 

From there, Ricklefs allegedly ran over a man in a business parking lot on 9 Mile Road and drove away. A short while later, police allege Ricklefs struck two people in the parking lot of another business in the area of 14 Mile Road and Van Dyke, and an employee in the parking lot of a separate business. 

Police accuse Ricklefs of driving off and then striking a man crossing the street on Van Dyke near Convention Boulevard before allegedly pulling into a Walmart parking lot and intentionally hitting a store employee. 

Warren police arrested Ricklefs in the Walmart parking lot. Investigators say Ricklefs resisted arrest and attempted to bite and kick officers. 

Ricklefs's daughter, who was with her during the series of alleged incidents, was not injured. 

Warren police say an investigation confirmed that there is a mental health component to the alleged incidents, and that Ricklefs may have been experiencing a schizophrenic episode.

Police stopped Ricklefs after prosecutors allege she drove into two people loading groceries into their vehicles in a Walmart parking lot on Van Dyke Avenue. 

Ricklefs was arraigned on Monday on 10 counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of third-degree fleeing a police officer, two counts of malicious destruction of fire or police property, two counts of malicious destruction of personal property, and one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon, resisting a police officer and fourth-degree child abuse. 

A judge set Ricklefs' bond at $750,000. If she is released on bond, Ricklefs must wear a GPS tether and cannot have contact with any witness. Prosecutors say she is also subject to house arrest.

"The allegations in this case are shocking and deeply disturbing. Our office is committed to pursuing this case to the fullest extent of the law to ensure justice is served," said Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido in a statement.

Ricklefs has a probable cause conference on Oct. 7, with a preliminary examination scheduled for Oct. 14. 

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