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A Ripple in Ann Arbor

Sun, 11/09/2025 - 2:00pm

Originated and produced by Ann Arbor City Council Member Cynthia Harrison, the short documentary film A Ripple in Ann Arbor tells the story of the search for a serial rapist in Ann Arbor in the 1990s, the unfocused and invasive tactics used by police to find the perpetrator, and the innocent man who took the city to court to expose these tactics and reclaim his dignity, weaving interviews with people who lived these events with primary source materials.

Directed by filmmaker Aliyah Mitchell in partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library Archives, the film was released on November 9, 2025, in a truth and reconciliation event at the Michigan Theater. Following the showing of the film, a panel discussion of local civic and law enforcement leaders discussed the events and offered a formal apology to those affected.

The AADL Archives has many additional materials to explore relating to this topic, including dozens of Ann Arbor News articles that appear in the film. Michigan Daily articles are courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library:

1:02 - Police Suspect Serial Rapist - Michigan Daily, May 11, 1994

1:13 - Manhunt For Rapist Intensifies - Michigan Daily, October 17, 1994

2:21 - 5 Police Officers Receive Special Valor Citations - Ann Arbor News, June 24, 1991

3:00 - Police Give Public Improved Profile Of Serial Rapist - Ann Arbor News, June 30, 1994

6:27 - Rites Honor Gailbreath - Ann Arbor News, May 13, 1994

9:28 - Residents Resent Living In Fear - Ann Arbor News, May 13, 1994

10:35 - Public Seeks Action On Serial Rapist - Ann Arbor News, May 12, 1994

10:37 - Police Take Hit At Rapist Forum - Ann Arbor News, August 3, 1995

11:11 - Tenants Union & HRP Plot Renter Survival Tactics - Ann Arbor Sun, October 11, 1974

17:42 - Women & Safety - Ann Arbor News, November 15, 1994

20:28 - Coalition For Community Unity - Ann Arbor News, August 1, 1994

21:42 - Description Used Of Rapist Worries Some - Ann Arbor News, May 15, 1994

22:30 - Reward In Serial Rapist Case Grows - Ann Arbor News, October 29, 1994

24:22, 24:57 & 25:16 - Blacks Feel Wounded By Suspicion - Ann Arbor News, January 25, 1995

25:04 - Police Vow To Return Samples Eventually - Ann Arbor News, July 16, 1995

27:45 - More Consideration Of Blacks Urged In City Planning - Ann Arbor News, March 20, 1972

31:04 - Kurt Berggren For District Court Election Editorials - Agenda, November 1990

31:35 - Search For Serial Rapist Prompts Civil Rights Suit - Ann Arbor News, April 4, 1995

31:59 - 2nd Serial Attacker Suspected - Ann Arbor News, November 1, 1994

32:07 - Police Find Clues In Molester Hunt - Ann Arbor News, November 19, 1994

32:23 - Ann Arbor Man Gets 16-20 Years For Sexual Assault - Ann Arbor News, November 18, 1997

32:53 - Cabbie Describes Tension of Pursuit - Ann Arbor News, January 10, 1995

33:16 - Women Feel Sense of Relief - Ann Arbor News, March 3, 1995

33:23 - 5 Stories That Rocked Our Summer - Agenda, September 1995

33:28 - ‘92 DNA Tests Link Man To Serial Rapes - Michigan Daily, January 9, 1995

33:38 - Police Take Hit At Rapist Forum - Ann Arbor News, August 3, 1995

33:46 - Man Wins Ruling on Blood Sample - Ann Arbor News, December 14, 1995

36:19 - Blood Samples Are Still Barrier - Ann Arbor News, July 14, 1995

36:48 - Man Sues A2 Police Over Harassment In Rape Case - Michigan Daily, April 4, 1995

41:46 - Black Men Recount Pain Of Being Suspected In Rapes - Ann Arbor News, December 11, 1994

45:13 - Public Concerned About Racism Allegations - Ann Arbor News, November 15, 1994

Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Sample Sign at Chrysler-Plymouth Imperial, August 1966 Photographer: Duane Scheel

Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Sample Sign at Chrysler-Plymouth Imperial, August 1966 image

Year:
1966

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, August 30, 1966
Caption:
Sample Signs: These two signs — a large one (top) and a much smaller one (bottom) — on businesses on W. Stadium Blvd. are part of the "demonstration sign" display being prepared by the Chamber of Commerce to indicate what size signs would be permissable [sic] under the proposed sign ordinance and what they would look like to passing motorists and pedestrians. Of several signs to be placed at various business places, there were only the two completed this morning.

Read more about Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Sample Sign at Chrysler-Plymouth Imperial, August 1966
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Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Sample Sign at The Quarry Inc., August 1966 Photographer: Duane Scheel

Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Sample Sign at The Quarry Inc., August 1966 image

Year:
1966

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, August 30, 1967
Caption:
Sample Signs: These two signs — a large one (top) and a much smaller one (bottom) — on businesses on W. Stadium Blvd. are part of the "demonstration sign" display being prepared by the Chamber of Commerce to indicate what size signs would be permissable [sic] under the proposed sign ordinance and what they would look like to passing motorists and pedestrians. Of several signs to be placed at various business places, there were only the two completed this morning.

Read more about Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce Sample Sign at The Quarry Inc., August 1966
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Signs at Henderson City Ford Altered to Comply With New City Ordinance, March 1967 Photographer: Duane Scheel

Signs at Henderson City Ford Altered to Comply With New City Ordinance, March 1967 image

Year:
1967

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, March 5, 1967
Caption:
Sign Ordinance Provisions Being Met: Work was being done on this car sales lot sign this morning to change the flashing light portion of it to an area of solid illumination, in accordance with the city's new sign ordinance. The streamers over the W. Stadium lot also were being removed. The lot's operator was among more than 100 businessmen notified by the city that they had fixtures which would be in violation of the sign law as of today. The ordinance provisions which went into effect today apply to signs with flashing lights or rotating elements and to banners, pennants and string lights. Many other businessmen are acting to conform.