A Kent man used a gay dating phone app called Scruff and ended up meeting a man who allegedly pulled a handgun on him robbed him of his iPhone as the two met in a vehicle.
Officers arrested a 32-year-old Kent man for investigation of first-degree robbery in connection with the April 14 incident at a parking lot in the 10800 block of Southeast 240th Street, according to the police report.
A man called police to report a man he had met through the dating app had gotten into his car to talk and indicated he wanted money in return for sex. When the driver said he would not pay for sex, the other man pulled out a handgun, grabbed the man’s cellphone off the dash and said, “Have a nice day,” before he exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
The man used a tracking device on his iPhone to track the phone to the area of the Great Wall Shopping Mall in the 18200 block of the East Valley Highway. An investigation of video footage and phone records indicated the man had taken the stolen phone and sold it at a phone store for $150.
Police used the phone number and state Department of Licensing information to track down the man a few days after the incident at an apartment in the 10800 block of Southeast 240th Place.
The man had previous convictions for second-degree robbery and assault, so officers surrounded the apartment unit and demanded by loudspeaker for the man to exit the unit. The man surrendered without incident. Officers used a search warrant and found a handgun inside the apartment.
The man denied during a police interview that he knew anything about meeting a man through a dating app, stealing a phone or selling a phone.
Jail assault
Police arrested a city jail inmate for investigation of fourth-degree assault after he reportedly punched and kicked another inmate during a dispute at about 10:26 p.m. April 16 in the B unit of the jail, 1230 Central Ave. S.
A jail guard didn’t see the incident but called police after the inmate who was punched reported the fight and said he wanted to press charges, according to the police report.
The man said he told the other inmate he had excessive body odor and told him to shower. The inmate replied he had showered and didn’t have body odor. The argument led to a fight when the one inmate punched the other man, pushed him to the floor and kicked him.
The man who was attacked had an elbow scrape but no other injuries. He pressed an intercom to alert guards. The fight had ended when guards arrived.
Video surveillance as well as a witness confirmed the fight. The man who threw the punches said the other inmate had threatened him by getting up in his face and he wasn’t about to back down to that threat so he hit him rather than walking away.
City Hall harassment
Officers arrested a 55-year-old man for investigation of harassment after his loud yelling at a city employee April 16 on the first floor of City Hall, 220 Fourth Ave. S.
The man came up to the window at the city clerk’s office and said he would, “Wreck havoc,” according to the police report.
The man introduced himself as “Uncle Sam” and yelled that he was, “Going up to the mayor’s office and get money owed to him.”
He continued to yell and said, “I have the power. I could terrorize and take everyone out.”
The man then fled on foot but officers found him nearby at the corner of Fourth Avenue and West Gowe Street.
Assault
Police arrested a woman for investigation of fourth-degree assault after she allegedly slapped and scratched her boyfriend during a dispute at about 11:04 a.m. April 13 at a home in the 25000 block of 21st Avenue South.
The boyfriend had red marks across his chest and scratch marks near his left wrist, according to the police report.
The man said he had dated the woman for about four years. He said his girlfriend became upset after he confronted her about Facebook photos she posted showing her at someone’s house at a time when she was supposed to be at the doctor’s office. He told officers he suspected she was sleeping with other men.
The two began to argue about the photos while in bed and the girlfriend reportedly hit her boyfriend four or five times with an open hand.
The girlfriend told police she didn’t respond to her boyfriend’s comments about the photos and that he slapped her. She denied she slapped him or caused any of his scratches.
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