COVINGTON, Tenn. (WMC) – A man was arrested by the Covington Police Department after being accused of a violent Facebook catfishing scam.
On July 4, officers responded to a report at Save-A-Lot on Highway 51 where a man claimed he was in town for a date with someone he met on Facebook, named “Ariel.” The victim was supposed to meet Ariel at the Sunrise Apartments for the holiday celebrations.
Upon arriving at the apartments, the victim was approached by a man wearing all black, who jumped into his vehicle and demanded $500 via Apple Pay at gunpoint. After the robbery, the suspect continued to text the victim, threatening further harm unless another $500 was sent. The suspect even sent threatening photos of the victim’s home.
Using this information, detectives tracked down the suspect to a residence on Shelton Street. They called the phone on July 12, and the suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Demarieo Howard, answered. Howard was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery, theft, and aggravated assault without injury.
Howard was booked into Tipton County Jail with a bond set at $150,000.
“This scam didn’t work out for the suspects,” said Covington Police Chief Donna Turner. “Thanks to the victim’s prompt notification, detectives quickly identified the suspect hiding behind a false identity. We are grateful the victim was unharmed. This serves as a reminder to always meet new people in safe public places to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.”