Pontiac parole absconder wanted in fatal stabbing arrested in Dallas

A parole absconder from Pontiac wanted for allegedly stabbing a man last month has been arrested in Texas, officials said.

Juan Ramirez Jr., 31, was arrested at about 2 p.m. Friday in a Dallas bus station, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said. Officials said it's not clear to where Ramirez was headed.

They also said it's unknown when he will return to Oakland County since he must first appear before a judge in Dallas for an extradition hearing.

On Friday, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office charged Ramirez with second-degree murder and assault with intent to murder, authorities said.

Police sought Ramirez in connection with the April 27 death of Gregory Allen Copeland, 69, of Pontiac.

Authorities said Copeland was found shortly after 6:30 p.m. in the basement of his home in the 80 block of Ivy Street. He had been stabbed several times in the chest and unresponsive when sheriff's deputies arrived. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Deputies called there for a report of a man with a knife chasing a woman found her in an agitated state on top of a carport, officials said. There was no sign of the man.

A preliminary investigation revealed the 32-year-old woman was Copeland's niece and the man who had been chasing her was identified as Ramirez and someone she had a relationship with.

Investigators said Ramirez was paroled on Dec. 5 from the Michigan Department of Corrections. He had served nearly 10 years for unarmed robbery and home invasion convictions in Oakland County.

State officials listed Ramirez as an absconder on Feb. 14 after he failed to report to his parole officer.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

@CharlesERamirez